Image data transmitting apparatus, image data receiving apparatus, image data transmission system, image data transmitting method, and image data receiving method

1. An image data transmitting apparatus comprising:

an image compression unit configured to compress image data;

a marker insertion unit configured to insert a synchronization marker for each of the image data compressed by the image compression unit; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the image data into which the synchronization marker has been inserted, using a transmission method for digital audio signals,

wherein a bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is so set as to become a value different from a bit sequence, converging to zero, which is generated by the transmitter or a receiver for receiving the image data transmitted from the transmitter when a mute function is activated in the transmitter or the receiver, the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker being set within an upper allowable range from an upper limit of a range of digital data compressed by the image compression unit or set within a lower allowable range from a lower limit of the range thereof toward the upper limit of the range thereof.

2. An image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is set to a bit sequence which is set beforehand within an allowable range from an upper limit of a range of the digital audio signals generated by the transmitter toward a lower limit thereof or set beforehand within an allowable range from the lower limit thereof toward the upper limit thereof.

3. An image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker contains an identification bit with which to identify whether the bit sequence is the synchronization marker or the image data.

4. An image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker contains an identification bit with which to identify whether the bit sequence is synchronization marker or the image data.

5. An image data receiving apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive compressed image data into which a synchronization marker has been inserted, using a transmission method for digital audio signals;

a marker extraction unit configured to extract the synchronization marker from the image data received by the receiver; and

an image expansion unit configured to expand compressed image data from which the synchronization marker has been removed by the maker extraction unit, based on the synchronization marker,

wherein a bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is so set as to become a value different from a bit sequence, converging to zero, which is generated by the receiver or a transmitter for transmitting the image data to the receiver when a mute function is activated in the receiver or the transmitter, the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker being set within an upper allowable range from an upper limit of a range of digital data expanded by the image expansion unit or set within a lower allowable range from a lower limit of the range thereof toward the upper limit of the range thereof.

6. An image data receiving apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is set to a bit sequence which is set beforehand within an allowable range from an upper limit of a range of the digital audio signals generated by the transmitter toward a lower limit thereof or set beforehand within an allowable range from the lower limit thereof toward the upper limit thereof.

7. An image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the marker extraction unit determines, by referencing an identification bit contained in the synchronization maker, whether the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is the synchronization marker or the image data.

8. An image data transmitting apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the marker extraction unit determines, by referencing an identification bit contained in the synchronization maker, whether the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is the synchronization marker or the image data.

9. An image data transmitting system comprising:

an image data transmitting apparatus comprising:

an image compression unit configured to compress image data;

a marker insertion unit configured to insert a synchronization marker for each of the image data compressed by the image compression unit; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the image data into which the synchronization marker has been inserted, using a transmission method for digital audio signals,

wherein a bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is so set as to become a value different from a bit sequence, converging to zero, which is generated by the transmitter or a receiver for receiving the image data transmitted from the transmitter when a mute function is activated in the transmitter or the receiver; and

an image data receiving apparatus according to claim 5 , for receiving the image data transmitted from the image data transmitting apparatus.

10. A method for transmitting image data comprising:

compressing the image data;

inserting a synchronization marker for each of the image data compressed by the compressing; and

transmitting the image data into which the synchronous marker has been inserted, using a transmission method of digital audio signals,

wherein a bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is so set as to become a value different from a bit sequence, converging to zero, which is generated by a transmitter or a receiver for receiving the image data transmitted from the transmitter when a mute function is activated in the transmitter or the receiver, the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker being set within an upper allowable range from an upper limit of a range of digital data compressed in the compressing step or set within a lower allowable range from a lower limit of the range thereof toward the upper limit of the range thereof.

11. A method for receiving image data comprising:

receiving compressed image data into which a synchronization marker has been inserted, using a transmission method for digital audio signals;

extracting the synchronization marker from the image data received by the receiving; and

expanding compressed image data from which the synchronization marker has been removed by the extracting, based on the synchronization marker,

wherein a bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker is so set as to become a value different from a bit sequence, converging to zero, which is generated by a receiver or a transmitter for transmitting the image data to the receiver when a mute function is activated in the receiver or the transmitter, the bit sequence constituting the synchronization marker being set within an upper allowable range from an upper limit of a range of digital data expanded in the expanding step or set within a lower allowable range from a lower limit of the range thereof toward the upper limit of the range thereof.