Information processing apparatus and method, and recording medium and program used therewith

Abstract

An information processing apparatus controls an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types. The apparatus includes a detector which controls the encoder to perform first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and which detects, as information for use in second path encoding being to be performed on the video data and being included in the encoding processing, encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by controlling the encoder to perform the first path encoding.

1 . An information processing apparatus for controlling an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types, 
 the information processing apparatus comprising detecting means which controls the encoder to perform first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and which detects, as information for use in second path encoding being to be performed on the video data and being included in the encoding processing, encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by controlling the encoder to perform the first path encoding.    
   
   
       2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising setting means which, based on the encoding types and data amounts detected in the access units by said detecting means, sets target amounts of bits for the access units by allocating, to each of the access units, a target amount of bits for the entirety of second encoded video data obtained when the second path encoding is performed on the video data.  
   
   
       3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising encoding control means which controls the encoder to perform the second path encoding on the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including the encoding types detected in the access units by said detecting means and the target amounts of bits set in the access units by said setting means.  
   
   
       4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising display control means which, before the control by said encoding control means is initiated, controls a predetermined display device to display, as preview video, video corresponding to the second encoded video data, the video being to be obtained when the second path encoding is performed on the video data in accordance with the second encoding conditions.  
   
   
       5 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising input means which is operated by an operator viewing the preview video displayed on the display device under the control of said display control means, and which inputs, into the information processing apparatus, information corresponding to an instruction of the operator, 
 wherein, when said input means inputs first information corresponding to an instruction to initiate the second path encoding, said encoding control means initiates control of the encoder to perform the second path encoding on the video data.    
   
   
       6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 when, before inputting the first information, said input means inputs second information corresponding to an instruction to alter at least part of the second encoding conditions, at least one of said detecting means and said setting means re-executes processing of said at least one of said detecting means and said setting means;    said display control means controls the display device to display, as the preview video, the video corresponding to the second encoded video data, the video being to be obtained when the second path encoding is performed on the video data in accordance with the second encoding conditions in which said at least part of the second encoding conditions is altered such that said at least one of said detecting means and said setting means re-executes the processing of said at least one of said detecting means and said setting means; and    when the input means inputs the first information after said display control means performs the control, said encoding control means initiates control of said encoding means to perform the second path encoding on the video data in accordance with the second encoding conditions in which said at least part of the second encoding conditions is altered such that said at least one of said detecting means and said setting means re-executes the processing of said at least one of said detecting means and said setting means.    
   
   
       7 . An information processing method for controlling an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types, 
 the information processing method comprising the step of controlling the encoder to perform first path encoding on the video data in accordance with predetermined encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and detecting, as information for use in second path encoding being to be performed on the video data and being included in the encoding processing, encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by controlling the encoder to perform the first path encoding.    
   
   
       8 . A recording medium containing a program to be executed by a computer for controlling an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types, 
 the program comprising the step of controlling the encoder to perform first path encoding on the video data in accordance with predetermined encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and detecting, as information for use in second path encoding being to be performed on the video data and being included in the encoding processing, encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by controlling the encoder to perform the first path encoding.    
   
   
       9 . A program to be executed by a computer for controlling an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types, 
 the program comprising the step of controlling the encoder to perform first path encoding on the video data in accordance with predetermined encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and detecting, as information for use in second path encoding being to be performed on the video data and being included in the encoding processing, encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by controlling the encoder to perform the first path encoding.    
   
   
       10 . An information processing apparatus for recording, in a predetermined recording medium, data output from an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types, the information processing apparatus comprising: 
 acquiring means which acquires second encoded video data; and    recording means which records the second encoded video data acquired by said acquiring means in the recording medium,    wherein the encoder performs first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and a different information processing apparatus detects encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by the first path encoding,    wherein, by allocating, to each of the access units, a target amount of bits for the entirety of the second encoded video data, which is obtained when performing second path encoding on the video data on the basis of the detected encoding types and data amounts in the access units, the second path encoding being included in the encoding processing, the different information processing apparatus sets target amounts of bits for the access units, and    wherein the second encoded video data is obtained such that the encoder performs the second path encoding on the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including at least the encoding types detected in the access units by the different information processing apparatus and the target amounts of bits set in the access units by the different information processing apparatus, and, when the second encoded video data is output from the encoder, said acquiring means acquires the second encoded video data.    
   
   
       11 . An information processing method for an information processing apparatus for recording, in a predetermined recording medium, data output from an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types, the information processing method comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring second encoded video data; and    recording the acquired second encoded video data in the recording medium,    wherein the encoder performs first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and a different information processing apparatus detects encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by the first path encoding,    wherein, by allocating, to each of the access units, a target amount of bits for the entirety of the second encoded video data, which is obtained when performing second path encoding on the video data on the basis of the detected encoding types and data amounts in the access units, the second path encoding being included in the encoding processing, the different information processing apparatus sets target amounts of bits for the access units, and    wherein the second encoded video data is obtained such that the encoder performs the second path encoding on the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including at least the encoding types detected in the access units by the different information processing apparatus and the target amounts of bits set in the access units by the different information processing apparatus, and, when the second encoded video data is output from the encoder, the second encoded video data is acquired in the step of acquiring the second encoded video data.    
   
   
       12 . A recording medium containing a program to be executed by a computer for controlling recording, in a predetermined recording medium, of data output from an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data, the program comprising the steps of: 
 controlling acquisition of second encoded video data; and    controlling recording, in the recording medium, of the second encoded video data acquired under the control of the step of controlling the acquisition,    wherein the encoder performs first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and a different computer detects encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by the first path encoding,    wherein, by allocating, to each of the access units, a target amount of bits for the entirety of the second encoded video data, which is obtained when performing second path encoding on the video data on the basis of the detected encoding types and data amounts in the access units, the second path encoding being included in the encoding processing, the different computer sets target amounts of bits for the access units, and    wherein the second encoded video data is obtained such that the encoder performs the second path encoding on the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including at least the encoding types detected in the access units by the different computer and the target amounts of bits set in the access units by the different computer, and, when the second encoded video data is output from the encoder, the second encoded video data is acquired in the step of controlling the acquisition.    
   
   
       13 . A program to be executed by a computer for controlling recording, in a predetermined recording medium, of data output from an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data, the program comprising the steps of: 
 controlling acquisition of second encoded video data; and    controlling recording, in the recording medium, of the second encoded video data acquired under the control of the step of controlling the acquisition,    wherein the encoder performs first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and a different computer detects encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by the first path encoding,    wherein, by allocating, to each of the access units, a target amount of bits for the entirety of the second encoded video data, which is obtained when performing second path encoding on the video data on the basis of the detected encoding types and data amounts in the access units, the second path encoding being included in the encoding processing, the different computer sets target amounts of bits for the access units, and    wherein the second encoded video data is obtained such that the encoder performs the second path encoding on the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including at least the encoding types detected in the access units by the different computer and the target amounts of bits set in the access units by the different computer, and, when the second encoded video data is output from the encoder, the second encoded video data is acquired in the step of controlling the acquisition.    
   
   
       14 . An information processing apparatus for controlling an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types, 
 the information processing apparatus comprising a detector configured to control the encoder to perform first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and to detect, as information for use in second path encoding being to be performed on the video data and being included in the encoding processing, encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by controlling the encoder to perform the first path encoding.    
   
   
       15 . An information processing apparatus for recording, in a predetermined recording medium, data output from an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types, the information processing apparatus comprising: 
 an acquiring section acquiring second encoded video data; and    a recording section recording the second encoded video data acquired by said acquiring section in the recording medium,    wherein the encoder performs first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and a different information processing apparatus detects encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by the first path encoding,    wherein, by allocating, to each of the access units, a target amount of bits for the entirety of the second encoded video data, which is obtained when performing second path encoding on the video data on the basis of the detected encoding types and data amounts in the access units, the second path encoding being included in the encoding processing, the different information processing apparatus sets target amounts of bits for the access units, and    wherein the second encoded video data is obtained such that the encoder performs the second path encoding on the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including at least the encoding types detected in the access units by the different information processing apparatus and the target amounts of bits set in the access units by the different information processing apparatus, and, when the second encoded video data is output from the encoder, said acquiring section acquires the second encoded video data.