摘要 |
Moving-picture bitstreams are switched at a predetermined switching timing to form a successive moving-picture bitstream. Each bitstream carries first pictures to be used as reference pictures for inter-picture prediction and second pictures other than the first pictures. Buffer occupancy indicator at decoder buffer is obtained on each picture carried by the successive moving-picture bitstream. A difference in buffer occupancy just before and just after the switching timing is obtained based on the buffer occupancy data to set a decimation rate and a decimation period on the second pictures so that the difference in buffer occupancy just before and just after the switching timing becomes small. The second pictures only are decimated from the successive moving-picture bitstream at the decimation rate within the decimation period, thus obtaining an output moving-picture bitstream having an adjusted buffer occupancy in accordance with the decimation.
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