Encoding apparatus and method of same and decoding apparatus and method of same

Abstract

Encoding and decoding systems for MPEG encoding and decoding at a high speed using a parallel processing system, wherein macroblocks to be processed are designated for first to third processors which are made to carry out all processings of encoding, variable length coding, and local decoding of those macroblocks; the variable length coding is carried out after confirming that the variable length coding with respect to the previous macroblock is ended; the variable length coding which was normally sequentially carried out at a specific processor is carried out at all of the processors; and the encoding and local decoding are carried out at all of the processors; whereby the loads are dispersed, the efficiency is improved as a whole, and the processing speed becomes fast.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A data processing method for data which is divided into blocks to carry out a predetermined operation consists of a first operation performed sequentially and a second operation performed in parallel, using a multi-processor system including a plurality of processor units, the method comprising: 
 allotting said first operation to a first processor;    allotting said second operation to a plurality of processors other than said first processor; and    carrying out said allotted operations on each processor successively to perform said predetermined operation of each block in parallel.    
   
   
       21 . A data processing method as set forth in claim  1 , wherein said first processor carries out said first operation of each block in an order corresponding to the order of said block.  
   
   
       22 . A data processing method as set forth in claim  2 , wherein said first processor carries out said first operation of each block after said plurality of processors other than said first processor operating a predetermined part of said second operation of the corresponding block.  
   
   
       23 . A data processing method as set forth in claim  2 , wherein said plurality of processors other than said first processor carry out said second operation of each block after said first operation.  
   
   
       24 . A data processing method as set forth in claim  2 , wherein said first operation comprises variable length encoding or decoding.  
   
   
       25 . A data processing method as set forth in claim  2 , wherein said block comprises a macro block or slice of image data.  
   
   
       26 . A data processing method as set forth in claim  2 , wherein said multi-processor system has a plurality of processors carrying out predetermined operations according to certain programs operating in parallel.  
   
   
       27 . A data processing method as set forth in claim  2 , wherein said multi-processor system has a plurality of processors comprised of dedicated hardware operating in parallel.  
   
   
       28 . A data processing method as set forth in claim  2 , wherein said multi-processor system has a plurality of respectively independent processors connected by any communication means to cooperate and carry out some intended processing.  
   
   
       29 . A data processing apparatus for data which is divided into blocks to carry out a predetermined operation that consists of a first operation performed sequentially and a second operation performed in parallel, with a multi-processor system including a plurality of processor units, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first processor for carrying out said first operation; and    a plurality of processor other than said first processor for respectively carrying out said second operation, wherein 
 each processor carries out each operation successively to perform said predetermined operation of each block in parallel.  
   
   
   
       30 . A data processing apparatus as set forth in claim  10 , wherein said first processor carries out said first operation of each block in an order corresponding to the order of said block.  
   
   
       31 . A program for processing data divided into blocks to carry out a predetermined operation consists of a first operation performed sequentially and a second operation performed in parallel, using a multi-processor system including a plurality of processor units, comprising: 
 allotting said first operation to first processor;    allotting said second operation respectively to a plurality of processors other than said first processor; and    carrying out said allotted operation to each processor successively to perform said predetermined operation of each block in parallel.    
   
   
       32 . A program for data processing as set forth in claim  12 , wherein said first processor carries out said first operation of each block in order corresponding to the order of said block.  
   
   
       33 . A multi-processor system including a plurality of processor units for processing data divided into blocks to carry out a predetermined operation consists of a first operation performed sequentially and a second operation performed in parallel, comprising: 
 a first processor for operating said first operation; and    a plurality of processors other than said first processor for respectively operating said second operation, wherein each processor carries out each operation successively to perform said predetermined operation of each block in parallel.    
   
   
       34 . A multi-processor system as set forth in claim  14 , wherein said first processor carries out said first operation of each block in order corresponding to the order of said block.