Encoder, decoder and methods of encoding and decoding

Abstract

A method of encoding source data (20) to generate corresponding encoded data (30) for transmission or storage is provided, wherein the method includes: (a) matching one or more portions of the source data (20) to one or more elements (E) in one or more databases (100), wherein the one or more elements (E) are representative of corresponding one or more data blocks, and recording reference values (R, 300) which relate the one or more portions of the source data (20) to the one or more matched elements (E); and (b) including the reference values (R, 300) in the encoded data (30) together with the one or more databases (100) and / or information identifying the one or more databases (100). A method of decoding encoded data (30) to generate corresponding decoded output data (60) is also provided, wherein the method includes: (a) receiving encoded data (30) including reference values (R, 300) and information regarding area identifiers (U) and information regarding one or more databases (100); (b) decoding from the encoded data (30) the reference values (R, 300); (c) accessing one or more elements (E) from the one or more databases (100) as directed by the reference values (R, 300), wherein the one or more elements (E) are representative of one or more corresponding data blocks; and (d) generating the one or more data blocks for assembling corresponding decoded data (60) for output. The methods are beneficially implemented in an encoder (10), a decoder (50) and in a codec (5). In the codec (5), the at least one encoder (10) and the at least one decoder (50) share one or more databases (100) referred to by reference values (R) included in the encoded data (30).

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to an encoder for encoding source data, such as captured image data and / or audio data, to generate corresponding encoded data. The invention also relates to a decoder for decoding encoded data to generate corresponding decoded data, eg decoded data representing source data. The encoder and decoder may use one or more databases comprising information that is processed at the decoder along with the encoded data to generate decoded data; the one or more databases may be located on one or more data servers. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of encoding source data to generate corresponding encoded data. The invention also relates to a method of decoding encoded data to generate corresponding decoded data, for example decoded data representing source data. The methods described above may include using one or more databases comprising information that is processed with encoded data to generate decoded data. Further, the pr...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, since the data corresponding to database elements are not related to each other, performing a search in the database to find a match is difficult and requires considerable computing resources as the size of the database grows

On the contrary, when the database is small, the degree of matching of image blocks with the blocks already existing in the database is compromised, which makes it difficult to achieve a satisfactory level of quality when constructing an image based on the encoded data generated by this method.

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