Data processing device and method, recording medium, and program

Abstract

An improvement information generating unit ( 11 ) generates a plurality of types of improvement information for improving the image quality of an image (broadcast image) broadcast as a program. An integrating unit ( 12 ) embeds one or more of the plurality of types of improvement information generated by the improvement information generating unit ( 11 ) into the broadcast image, thus integrating the improvement information with the broadcast image, and outputs an integrated signal. The integrated signal is transmitted via a transmitting unit ( 13 ). Thus, images of various image qualities are provided.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A data processing device for receiving and processing data and one or more types of improvement information for improving the quality of the data, the device comprising:
 receiving means for receiving the data and the one or more types of improvement information;   improving means for improving the quality of the data by using one of the one or more types of improvement information; and   accounting means for carrying out accounting in accordance with the improvement information used for improving the quality of the data.   
     
     
         62 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of types of improvement information, the data processing device further comprising improvement information selecting means for selecting improvement information used for improving the quality of the data, from the plurality of types of improvement information. 
     
     
         63 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 62 , wherein the improvement information selecting means selects the improvement information in response to a request from a user. 
     
     
         64 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 61 , further comprising requesting means for requesting a transmitting device which transmits the data and one or more types of improvement information, for the improvement information used for improving the quality of the data,
 wherein the receiving means receives the improvement information transmitted from the transmitting device in response to the request of the requesting means.   
     
     
         65 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the improvement information is a prediction coefficient used for predicting a prediction value of quality-improved data obtained by improving the quality of the data, and the improving means finds the prediction value of the quality-improved data by using the data and the prediction coefficient. 
     
     
         66 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 65 , wherein the improvement information is a prediction coefficient found for each predetermined class, and the improving means finds the prediction value of the quality-improved data by using the data and the prediction coefficient for each class. 
     
     
         67 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 66 , wherein the improving means comprises:
 class tap constructing means for constructing a class tap used for finding the class of target quality-improved data, which is targeted quality-improved data, by using the data;   classifying means for carrying out classification for finding the class of the target quality-improved data on the basis of the class tap;   prediction tap constructing means for constructing a prediction tap used together with a prediction coefficient for predicting the target quality-improved data, by using the data; and   predicting means for finding the prediction value of the target quality-improved data by using the prediction coefficient of the class of the target quality-improved data and the prediction tap.   
     
     
         68 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of types of improvement information. 
     
     
         69 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein the receiving means receives prediction coefficients for different numbers of classes as the plurality of types of improvement information. 
     
     
         70 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein the prediction coefficient is generated by using learner data to be a learner and teacher data to be a teacher, and the receiving means receives a plurality of types of prediction coefficients found by using learner data or teacher data of different qualities, as the plurality of types of improvement information. 
     
     
         71 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein the receiving means receives at least the prediction coefficient and information for carrying out linear interpolation, as the plurality of types of improvement information. 
     
     
         72 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of types of prediction coefficients found by using class taps or prediction taps of different structures, as the plurality of types of improvement information. 
     
     
         73 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of types of prediction coefficients found by carrying out classification by different methods, as the plurality of types of improvement information. 
     
     
         74 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the receiving means receives embedded data obtained by embedding one or more types of improvement information into the data, the data processing device further comprising extracting means for extracting the improvement information from the embedded data. 
     
     
         75 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein the extracting means extracts the improvement information from the embedded data by using the bias of energy held by the data. 
     
     
         76 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein the extracting means extracts the improvement information from the embedded data by carrying out inverse spectrum spreading. 
     
     
         77 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein the extracting means extracts one or more bits of the embedded data as the improvement information. 
     
     
         78 . The data processing device as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the data is image data and the improvement information is information for improving the image quality of the image data. 
     
     
         79 . A data processing method for receiving and processing data and one or more types of improvement information for improving quality of the data, the method comprising:
 a receiving step of receiving the data and the one or more types of improvement information;   an improving step of improving the quality of the data by using one of the one or more types of improvement information; and   an accounting step of carrying out accounting in accordance with the improvement information used for improving the quality of the data.   
     
     
         80 . A recording medium having recorded thereon a program to be executed by a computer for receiving and processing data and one or more types of improvement information for improving quality of the data, the program comprising:
 a receiving step of receiving the data and the one or more types of improvement information;   an improving step of improving the quality of the data by using one of the one or more types of improvement information; and   an accounting step of carrying out accounting in accordance with the improvement information used for improving the quality of the data.   
     
     
         81 . A program to be executed by a computer for receiving and processing data and one or more types of improvement information for improving the quality of the data, the program comprising:
 a receiving step of receiving the data and the one or more types of improvement information;   an improving step of improving the quality of the data by using one of the one or more types of improvement information; and   an accounting step of carrying out accounting in accordance with the improvement information used for improving the quality of the data.