Image processing apparatus and method, program, and recording medium

1. An image processing apparatus for performing at least part of coding processing on image data, comprising:

data conversion means for performing at least part of the coding processing on the image data;

detection means for detecting an editing point of the image data, the editing point detected based on at least one factor indicating discontinuity between frames of the image data, wherein the at least one factor includes additional coding information added to the image data; and

control means for determining, based on the editing point detected by the detection means, a reuse disable period in which information concerning previous coding processing performed on the image data is not reusable when the data conversion means performs at least part of the coding processing, wherein the control means:

detects first image data corresponding to a P picture which is positioned temporally after the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means for a predetermined number of frames, and

detects second image data corresponding to a frame which is positioned temporally after the first image data by a predetermined number of frames, and

controls third image data corresponding to a frame one frame before an I picture positioned after and closest to the frame corresponding to the second image data to be an end position of the reuse disable period.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection means detects the editing point based on flag information indicating the editing point contained in the image data.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring from the image data the information concerning the previous coding processing on the image data,

wherein the detection means detects the editing point based on the information concerning the previous coding processing acquired by the acquiring means.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein,

when detecting, based on the information concerning the previous coding processing acquired by the acquiring means, at least one of that:

count numbers added to predetermined units forming the image data are not continuous;

start points at which the previous coding processing is started are different between the units forming the image data; and

coding devices that performed the previous coding processing are different between the units forming the image data, the detection means sets a point of the image data detected between the units to be the editing point.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein,

when detecting that count numbers added to the units forming the image data are not continuous, the detection means sets a point of the image data detected between the units to be the editing point.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein,

when detecting that start points at which the previous coding processing is started are different between the units forming the image data, the detection means sets a point of the image data detected between the units to be the editing point.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein,

when detecting that coding devices that performed the previous coding processing are different between the units forming the image data, the detection means sets a point of the image data detected between the units to be the editing point.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring, separately from the image data, the information concerning the previous coding performed on the image data,

wherein the detection means detects the editing point based on the information concerning the previous coding processing acquired by the acquiring means.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein,

when detecting, based on the information concerning the previous coding processing acquired by the acquiring means, at least one of that: count numbers added to the predetermined units forming the image data are not continuous;

start points at which the previous coding processing is started are different between the units forming the image data; and

coding devices that performed the previous coding processing are different between the units forming the image data, the detection means sets a point of the image data detected between the units to be the editing point.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein,

when detecting that count numbers added to predetermined units forming the image data are not continuous, the detection means sets a point of the image data detected between the units to be the editing point.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein,

when detecting that start points at which the previous coding processing is started are different between predetermined units forming the image data, the detection means sets a point of the image data detected between the units to be the editing point.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein,

when detecting that coding devices that performed the previous coding processing are different between predetermined units forming the image data, the detection means sets a point of the image data detected between the units to be the editing point.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the unit includes a frame, a field, or adjacent frames of the same coding type of picture or GOP.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control means controls a P picture of the image data which is temporally positioned immediately before the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means to be a start position of the reuse disable period.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control means detects first image data corresponding to a frame which is positioned temporally after the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means for a predetermined number of frames, and controls second image data corresponding to a frame one frame before an I picture positioned after and closest to the frame of the first image data to be an end position of the reuse disable period.

16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control means detects first image data corresponding to a P picture which is positioned temporally after the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means by a predetermined number of frames, and controls second image data corresponding to a frame one frame before the frame corresponding to the first image data to be an end position of the reuse disable period.

17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control means determines, based on the editing point detected by the detection means, a reuse able period in which part of the information concerning the previous coding processing performed on the image data is usable when the data conversion means performs at least part of the coding processing;

the control means:

controls a P picture of the image data which is temporally positioned immediately before the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means to be a start position of the reuse disable period, and

detects first image data corresponding to the P picture which is positioned temporally after the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means for a predetermined number of frames, and

controls second image data corresponding to a frame one frame before the first image data to be an end position of the reuse disable period; and

the control means

controls the first image data to be a start position of the reuse able period, and

detects third image data corresponding to a frame which is positioned temporally after the frame corresponding to the first image data by a predetermined number of frames, and

controls fourth image data corresponding to a frame one frame before an I picture positioned after and closest to the frame corresponding to the third image data to be an end position of the reuse able period.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control means controls at least part of the coding processing on the image data performed by the data conversion means based on the reuse disable period.

19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control means determines, based on the editing point detected by the detection means, a reuse able period in which part of the information concerning the previous coding processing is usable when the data conversion means performs at least part of the coding processing; and

the control means controls at least part of the coding processing performed by the data conversion means based on the reuse disable period and the reuse able period.

20. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

generating means for generating history information concerning part of the coding processing performed by the data conversion means,

wherein the generating means generates the history information containing information concerning the reuse disable period determined by the control means.

21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

generating means for generating history information concerning part of the coding processing performed by the data conversion means,

wherein the control means further determines, based on the editing point detected by the detection means,

a reuse able period in which part of the information concerning the previous coding processing is reusable when the data conversion means performs at least part of the coding processing; and

the generating means generates the history information containing information concerning the reuse disable period and the reuse able period determined by the control means.

22. An image processing method for an image processing apparatus for performing at least part of coding processing on image data, the image processing method comprising:

a detection step of detecting an editing point of the image data, the editing point detected based on at least one factor indicating discontinuity between frames of the image data, wherein the at least one factor includes additional coding information added to the image data; and

a control step of determining, based on the editing point detected in the detection step, a reuse disable period in which information concerning previous coding processing is not reusable when at least part of the coding processing is performed, wherein the control step:

detects first image data corresponding to a P picture which is positioned temporally after the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means for a predetermined number of frames, and

detects second image data corresponding to a frame which is positioned temporally after the first image data by a predetermined number of frames, and

controls third image data corresponding to a frame one frame before an I picture positioned after and closest to the frame corresponding to the second image data to be an end position of the reuse disable period.

23. A recording medium storing therein a program for allowing a computer to execute an image processing method for performing at least part of coding processing on image data, the image processing method comprising:

a detection step of detecting an editing point of the image data, the editing point detected based on at least one factor indicating discontinuity between frames of the image data, wherein the at least one factor includes additional coding information added to the image data; and

a control step of determining, based on the editing point detected in the detection step, a reuse disable period in which information concerning previous coding processing is not reusable when at least part of the coding processing is performed wherein the control step:

detects first image data corresponding to a P picture which is positioned temporally after the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means for a predetermined number of frames, and

detects second image data corresponding to a frame which is positioned temporally after the first image data by a predetermined number of frames, and

controls third image data corresponding to a frame one frame before an I picture positioned after and closest to the frame corresponding to the second image data to be an end position of the reuse disable period.

24. An image processing apparatus for performing coding processing on image data, comprising:

data conversion means for performing at least part of the coding processing on the image data;

detection means for detecting an editing point of the image data, wherein the editing point is detected using coding information added to the image data; and

control means for determining, based on the editing point detected by the detection means, a reuse disable period in which information concerning previous coding processing performed on the image data is not reusable when the data conversion means performs at least part of the coding processing,

wherein the control means:

detects first image data corresponding to a P picture which is positioned temporally after the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means for a predetermined number of frames, and

detects second image data corresponding to a frame which is positioned temporally after the first image data by a predetermined number of frames, and

controls third image data corresponding to a frame one frame before an I picture positioned after and closest to the frame corresponding to the second image data to be an end position of the reuse disable period.

25. An apparatus comprising:

first determining means for determining a start position of a reuse disable period;

second determining means for determining an end position of the reuse disable period;

detecting means for detecting an editing point, based on a stream of data received by the apparatus or extracted history information;

wherein the detecting means detects a P picture sequentially preceding the editing point; and

control means for setting a reuse disable period starting time from the P picture before the editing point to a predetermined picture after the editing point wherein the control means:

detects first image data corresponding to the P picture which is positioned temporally after the frame at the editing point detected by the detection means for a predetermined number of frames, and

detects second image data corresponding to a frame which is positioned temporally after the first image data by a predetermined number of frames, and

controls third image data corresponding to a frame one frame before an I picture positioned after and closest to the frame corresponding to the second image data to be an end position of the reuse disable period,

wherein during the reuse disable period information concerning previous coding processing performed on the image data is not reusable, and

wherein during a non-reuse disable period, information concerning previous coding processing performed on the image data is not reusable.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control means:

determines whether a delay mode, picture configuration and pull down mode of a previous coding coincide with a current coding,

wherein when the delay mode, picture configuration and pull down mode of a previous coding coincide with a current coding, the control means performs coding reusing picture type information,

wherein when the delay mode, picture configuration and pull down mode of a previous coding do not coincide with a current coding, the control means performs coding independent of history or parameter information.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control means:

determines whether a delay mode, picture configuration and pull down mode of a previous coding coincide with a current coding,

wherein when the delay mode, picture configuration and pull down mode of a previous coding coincide with a current coding, the control means determines whether both a position and a size of an image frame of previous coding coincide with a position and a size of an image frame of current coding,

when both a position and a size of an image frame of previous coding coincide with a position and a size of an image frame of current coding the control means performs coding reusing picture type information and motion vector information,

when both a position and a size of an image frame of previous coding do not coincide with a position and a size of an image frame of current coding the control means performs coding reusing picture type information,

wherein when the delay mode, picture configuration and pull down mode of a previous coding do not coincide with a current coding, the control means performs coding independent of history or parameter information.