Code conversion/transmission method and apparatus for moving picture data, and code conversion/reception method and apparatus for moving picture data

Abstract

A code conversion/transmission apparatus for being supplied with compressed encoded data and converting and outputting the data to a transmission path has code converter/transmitters for outputting the encoded data input thereto and encoded data produced by re-encoding the encoded data input thereto, or outputting a plurality of encoded data comprising encoded data produced by separately re-encoding the encoded data input thereto, respectively, and transmitting the plurality of encoded data to at least one transmission path. At least a portion of the encoded data input thereto and at least a portion of the re-encoded encoded data are transmitted to the transmission path.

1 . A code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded packet data input thereto and outputting at least a portion of the input encoded packet;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for decoding at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, encoding the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         2 . A code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded data input thereto, encoding at least one frame of moving picture data produced by decoding the input encoded data, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for re-encoding at least one frame encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using at least one of interframe predictive parameters and predicted differential data which are obtained by an interframe prediction performed on said frame by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         3 . A code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for decoding at least a portion of encoded packet data input thereto, re-encoding the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded packet data thus obtained;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for encoding an image area encoded by each said packet data in at least a portion of the packet data encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using at least one of interframe predictive parameters and predicted differential data which are obtained by an interframe prediction performed on said image area by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         4 . A code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with and decoding compressed encoded packet data, encoding at least one frame of the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for encoding at least one frame encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using a reference frame image used in an interframe prediction performed on said frame by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to the first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         5 . A code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with and decoding compressed encoded packet data, encoding at least a portion of the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded packet data thus obtained;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for encoding an image area encoded by each said packet data in at least a portion of packet data encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using a reference frame image used in an interframe prediction performed on said image area by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         6 . A code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded packet data input thereto and outputting at least one of the input packet;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for duplicating at least one packet of packet data input by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting, with time differences, at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         7 . A code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded data, decoding at least a portion of the input encoded data, and outputting at least one frame which is produced by encoding the data obtained by the decoding;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for encoding data produced by decoding at least a portion of the input encoded data, and outputting at least one frame of the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         8 . A code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded packet data, decoding at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, and outputting at least one packet which is produced by encoding the data obtained by the decoding;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for decoding at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, encoding the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         9 . The code conversion/transmission apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 ,  3 ,  5 ,  6 , and  8 , wherein at least one of said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means selects at least one packet according to the nature of moving pictures or predetermined rules. 
     
     
         10 . The code conversion/transmission apparatus according to any one of  claims 2  to  5 ,  7 , and  8 , wherein, when said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means decodes said input encoded data and encodes the data obtained by the decoding, said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means compresses the data at compression ratio equal to or higher than the compression ratio of said input encoded data. 
     
     
         11 . The code conversion/transmission apparatus according to any one of  claims 2  to  5 ,  7 , and  8 , wherein, when said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means decode said input encoded data and encode the data obtained by the decoding, said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means compress the data a compression ratio equal to or higher than the compression ratio of said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means. 
     
     
         12 . The code conversion/transmission apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 ,  3 ,  5 , and  8 , comprising:
 moving picture decoding means for decoding and outputting said input encoded data, said moving picture decoding means being shared by a plurality of moving picture code converting/transmitting means of said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means;   wherein each of said plurality of moving picture code converting/transmitting means encode packet data output from said moving picture decoding means upon the encoding of packet data.   
     
     
         13 . A code conversion/reception apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 selecting means for selecting a transmission path for receiving encoded data from first to M th  transmission paths where M is an integer of 1 or more; and   means for receiving encoded data from the transmission path selected by said selecting means, extracting encoded data which are received free of transmission errors and losses, and reconstructing encoded data based on the extracted encoded data and outputting the reconstructed encoded data.   
     
     
         14 . A code conversion/reception apparatus for moving picture data, comprising:
 selecting means for selecting a transmission path for receiving encoded data from first to M th  transmission paths where M is an integer of 1 or more; and   means for receiving encoded data from the transmission path selected by said selecting means, extracting encoded packet data which are received free of transmission errors and losses, and reconstructing encoded packet data based on the extracted encoded packet data, and outputting the reconstructed encoded packet data.   
     
     
         15 . The code conversion/reception apparatus according to  claim 13 , comprising means for selecting one of encoded data in the same frame which is received from said selected transmission path based on a compression ratio and/or image quality. 
     
     
         16 . The code conversion/reception apparatus according to  claim 14 , comprising means for selecting one of packet data produced by encoding an image in the same area of the same frame which is received from said selected transmission path based on a compression ratio and/or image quality. 
     
     
         17 . A code conversion/transmission system for moving picture data, comprising a code conversion/transmission apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 ,  3 ,  5 ,  6 , and  8 , and a code conversion/reception apparatus comprising
 selecting means for selecting a transmission path for receiving encoded data from first to M th  transmission paths where M is an integer of 1 or more; and   means for receiving encoded data from the transmission path selected by said selecting means, extracting encoded packet data which are received free of transmission errors and losses, and reconstructing encoded packet data based on the extracted encoded packet data, and outputting the reconstructed encoded packet data.   
     
     
         18 . The code conversion/transmission system according to  claim 17 , comprising means for controlling delays, multiplexing the data, and outputting the multiplexed data such that the outputs of said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means of said code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data are transmitted with time differences, wherein the multiplexed data are transmitted to the transmission paths. 
     
     
         19 . A code conversion/transmission system for moving picture data, comprising:
 an encoding apparatus for outputting encoded data;   a code conversion/transmission apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 ,  3 ,  5 ,  6 , and  8 ;   a plurality of code conversion/reception apparatus; and   a plurality of decoding apparatus;   wherein the encoded data from said encoding apparatus are input to said code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data;   said plurality of code conversion/reception apparatus for moving picture data are supplied with the output from said code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data;   said plurality of decoding apparatus are supplied with and decode encoded data from plurality of said code conversion/reception apparatus for moving picture data; and   said plurality of code conversion/reception apparatus comprise selecting means for selecting a transmission path for receiving encoded data from first to M th  transmission paths where M is an integer of 1 or more; and   means for receiving encoded data from the transmission path selected by said selecting means, extracting encoded packet data which are received free of transmission errors and losses, and reconstructing encoded packet data based on the extracted encoded packet data, and outputting the reconstructed encoded packet data.   
     
     
         20 . The code conversion/transmission system according to  claim 19 , wherein said code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data transmits the encoded data to said plurality of code conversion/reception apparatus for moving picture data in response to control signals respectively from said plurality of code conversion/reception apparatus for moving picture data. 
     
     
         21 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to be supplied with compressed encoded data input thereto and output at least one frame of the input encoded data;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to encode data produced by decoding at least a portion of the input encoded data, and output at least one frame of the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         22 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to be supplied with compressed encoded packet data input thereto and output at least a portion of the input packet;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to encode data produced by decoding at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, and output at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to the first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         23 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to be supplied with compressed encoded data input thereto, encode at least one frame of moving picture data produced by decoding the input encoded data, and output at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to re-encode at least one frame encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using at least one of interframe predictive parameters and predicted differential data which are obtained by an interframe prediction performed on said frame by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and output at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         24 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to decode at least a portion of encoded packet data input thereto, re-encode the data obtained by the decoding, and output at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to encode an image area encoded by each said packet data in at least a portion of the packet data encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using at least one of interframe predictive parameters and predicted differential data which are obtained by an interframe prediction performed on said image area by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and output at least a portion of the encoded packet data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         25 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to be supplied with and decoding compressed encoded packet data, encode at least one frame of the data obtained by the decoding, and output at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to encode at least one frame encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using a reference frame image which is used in an interframe prediction performed on said frame by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and output at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         26 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to be supplied with and decoding compressed encoded packet data, encode the data obtained by the decoding, and output at least a portion of the encoded packet data thus obtained;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to encode an image area encoded by said packet data in at least partial packet data encoded by each said packet data in at least a portion of packet data encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using a reference frame image used in an interframe prediction performed on said image area by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         27 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to be supplied with compressed encoded packet data input thereto and output at least a portion of the input packet;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to duplicate at least one packet of packet data input by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and output, with time differences, at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         28 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to be supplied with compressed encoded data, decode at least a portion of the input encoded data, and output at least one frame which is produced by encoding the data obtained by the decoding;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to decode at least a portion of the input encoded data, encode the data obtained by the decoding, and output at least one frame of the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         29 . A code conversion/transmission method for moving picture data, which is carried out by a code conversion/transmission apparatus having first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, comprising the steps of:
 (a) causing said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means to be supplied with compressed encoded packet data, decode at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, and output at least one packet which is produced by encoding the data obtained by the decoding;   (b) causing said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to encode data produced by decoding at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, and output at least a portion of packet data thus obtained; and   (c) sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         30 . The code conversion/transmission method according to any one of  claims 22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  27 , and  29 , wherein at least one packet is selected according to the nature of moving pictures or predetermined rules. 
     
     
         31 . The code conversion/transmission method according to any one of  claims 23  to  29 , wherein in said step (a), when said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means decodes said input encoded data and encodes the data obtained by the decoding, said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means compresses the data at a compression ratio equal to or higher than the compression ratio of said input encoded data. 
     
     
         32 . The code conversion/transmission method according to any one of  claims 23  to  27 , wherein in said step (b), when said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means decode said input encoded data and encode the data obtained by the decoding, said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means compress the data at a compression ratio equal to or higher than the compression ratio of said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means. 
     
     
         33 . A code conversion/reception method for moving picture data, comprising the steps of:
 selecting at least one transmission path from M transmission paths where M is an integer of 1 or more; and   receiving encoded data from the selected transmission path, extracting encoded packet data which are received free of transmission errors and losses, and reconstructing encoded packet data based on the extracted encoded packet data and outputting the reconstructed encoded packet data.   
     
     
         34 . The code conversion/transmission method according to  claim 33 , wherein if a plurality of packet data produced by encoding an image in the same area of the same frame are received, one of the packet 
     
     
         35 . A code transmission method for moving picture data, comprising the step of receiving encoded data transmitted by a code conversion/transmission method according to any one of  claims 22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  27 , and  29 , and a code conversion/reception method comprising the steps of:
 selecting at least one transmission path from M transmission paths where M is an integer of 1 or more; and   receiving encoded data from the selected transmission path, extracting encoded packet data which are received free of transmission errors and losses, and reconstructing encoded packet data based on the extracted encoded packet data and outputting the reconstructed encoded packet data.   
     
     
         36 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, to function as:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded packet data input thereto and outputting at least a portion of the input encoded packet;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for decoding at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, encoding the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         37 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, to function as:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded data input thereto, encoding at least one frame of moving picture data produced by decoding the input encoded data, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for re-encoding at least one frame encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using at least one of interframe predictive parameters and predicted differential data which are obtained by an interframe prediction performed on said frame by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         38 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, to function as:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for decoding at least a portion of encoded packet data input thereto, re-encoding the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for encoding an image area encoded by each said packet data in at least a portion of the packet data encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using at least one of interframe predictive parameters and predicted differential data which are obtained by an interframe prediction performed on said image area by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         39 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, to function as:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with and decoding compressed encoded packet data, encoding at least one frame of the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for encoding at least one frame encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using a reference frame image used in an interframe prediction performed on said frame by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         40 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, to function as:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with and decoding compressed encoded packet data, encoding at least a portion of the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of the encoded packet data thus obtained;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for encoding an image area encoded by each said packet data in at least a portion of packet data encoded by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, using a reference frame image used in an interframe prediction performed on said image area by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         41 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, to function as:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded packet data input thereto and outputting at least one of the input packet;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for duplicating at least one packet of packet data input by said first moving picture code converting/transmitting means, and outputting, with time differences, at least a portion of the packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         42 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, to function as:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded data, decoding at least a portion of the input encoded data, and outputting at least one frame which is produced by encoding the data obtained by the decoding;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for encoding data produced by decoding at least a portion of the input encoded data, and outputting at least one frame of the encoded data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         43 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data, to function as:
 (a) first moving picture code converting/transmitting means for being supplied with compressed encoded packet data, decoding at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, and outputting at least one packet which is produced by encoding the data obtained by the decoding;   (b) second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, where N is an integer of 2 or more, for decoding at least a portion of the input encoded packet data, encoding the data obtained by the decoding, and outputting at least a portion of packet data thus obtained; and   (c) means for sending at least one of outputs from said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means to first to M th  transmission paths, where M is an integer of 1 or more.   
     
     
         44 . A program for enabling a computer which serves as a code conversion/reception apparatus for moving picture data, to perform:
 a process of selecting at least one transmission path from M transmission paths where M is an integer of 1 or more; and   a process of receiving encoded data from the selected transmission path, extracting packet data which are received free of transmission errors and losses, and reconstructing encoded data based on the extracted packet data and outputting the reconstructed encoded data.   
     
     
         45 . The program according to  claim 44 , wherein if there are a plurality of packet data produced by encoding an image in the same area of the same frame received from said selected transmission path, said program enables said computer to perform a process of selecting encoded packet data based on a compression ratio and/or image quality, and reconstructing and outputting encoded data. 
     
     
         46 . The code conversion/transmission system according to  claim 18 , wherein said time differences for the outputs of said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means of said code conversion/transmission apparatus for moving picture data are established according to the state of the transmission paths and/or predetermined rules. 
     
     
         47 . The code conversion/transmission system according to  claim 17 , wherein said code conversion/reception apparatus further comprises means for selecting one of packet data produced by encoding an image in the same area of the same frame which is received from said selected transmission path based on a compression ratio and/or image quality. 
     
     
         48 . The code conversion/transmission system according to  claim 19 , wherein said code conversion/reception apparatus further comprises means for selecting one of packet data produced by encoding an image in the same area of the same frame which is received from said selected transmission path based on a compression ratio and/or image quality. 
     
     
         49 . The code conversion/transmission method according to  claim 20 , wherein outputs of said second to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means in said step (b) and an output in said step (a) are outputted with time differences, and/or respective outputs in said step (b) are outputted with time differences. 
     
     
         50 . The code conversion/transmission method according to  claim 20 , wherein compression ratios of said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means and/or the number of encoded data to be transmitted is selected depending on bands that can be used by said first to M th  transmission paths, and the data are sent to said first to M th  transmission paths. 
     
     
         51 . The code transmission method according to  claim 35 , wherein if a plurality of packet data produced by encoding an image in the same area of the same frame are received, one of the packet data is selected based on a compression ratio and/or image quality. 
     
     
         52 . The code transmission method according to  claim 35 , for enabling a computer to function as moving picture decoding means, shared by a plurality of moving picture code converting/transmitting means for encoding data produced by encoding moving picture data, of said first to N th  moving picture code converting/transmitting means, for decoding moving picture data input thereto and supplying the decoded data to said plurality of moving picture code converting/transmitting means.