Image processing apparatus and method

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus, including, a header information production section configured to produce, regarding each of divisional code streams obtained by dividing a code stream having a structure of a progression order produced by coding image data, header information at a start and an end of the divisional code stream, the header information including a characteristic amount of an image of the image data, and a packet production section configured to convert each of the divisional code streams into a packet using the header information produced by the header information production section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing apparatus, comprising:
 characteristic amount specifying means for specifying a characteristic amount at a start and an end of each of divisional code streams, obtained by dividing a code stream having a structure of a progression order produced by coding image data, based on information regarding a characteristic amount of an image of the image data at a start and an end of the divisional code stream, the characteristic amount being included in a packet including the divisional code stream; and   packet selection means for carrying out selection of the packet in response to a desired characteristic amount based on the characteristic amount at the start and the end of the divisional code stream specified by said characteristic amount specifying means.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the code stream is obtained by coding the image data using the JPEG 2000 system. 
     
     
         3 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the characteristic amount includes resolution and a layer according to the JPEG 2000 system. 
     
     
         4 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the progression order has a hierarchical structure of at least two hierarchies, and a variable of the upper hierarchy is the resolution and a variable of the lower hierarchy is the layer or the variable of the upper hierarchy is the layer and the variable of the lower hierarchy is the resolution. 
     
     
         5 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the packet includes an attribute number, which is an identification number for identifying the characteristic amount from a different characteristic amount, at the start and the end of the divisional code stream included in the packet; and
 said characteristic amount specifying means calculates the characteristic amount from the attribute number.   
     
     
         6 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said characteristic amount specifying means includes:
 discrimination means for discriminating the progression order; and   calculation processing means for calculating the characteristic amount from the attribute number using a calculation expression for exclusive use for the progression order discriminated by said discrimination means.   
     
     
         7 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said packet selection means includes:
 discrimination means for discriminating the progression order; and   selection processing means for carrying out selection of the packet using a discrimination expression for exclusive use for the progression order discriminated by said discrimination means.   
     
     
         8 . An image processing method for an image processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 being carried out by characteristic amount specifying means of the image processing apparatus, of specifying a characteristic amount at a start and an end of each of divisional code streams, obtained by dividing a code stream having a structure of a progression order produced by coding image data, based on information regarding a characteristic amount of an image of the image data at a start and an end of the divisional code stream, the characteristic amount being included in a packet including the divisional code stream; and   being carried out by packet selection means of the image processing apparatus, of carrying out selection of the packet in response to a desired characteristic amount based on the characteristic amount at the start and the end of the specified divisional code stream.   
     
     
         9 . An image processing apparatus, comprising:
 a characteristic amount specifying section configured to specify a characteristic amount at a start and an end of each of divisional code stream, obtained by dividing a code stream having a structure of a progression order produced by coding image data, based on information regarding a characteristic amount of an image of the image data at a start and an end of the divisional code stream, the characteristic amount being included in a packet including the divisional code stream; and   a packet selection section configured to carry out selection of the packet in response to a desired characteristic amount based on the characteristic amount at the start and the end of the divisional code stream specified by said characteristic amount specifying section.