IMAGE ENCODER AND METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain both an encoding efficiency and quality of transmission image to a high level. SOLUTION: The image encoder is provided with a means that divides an image frame FD into a plurality of macro blocks, a means that encodes macro blocks in the encoding unit of segments SG0-SG6 consisting of one or 0 or a plurality of macro blocks and a segment size adjustment means that adjusts the size of the segments SG0-SG6. The segment size adjustment means selects a size of a head segment SG0 including a picture header PH being important information of an entire image frame smaller than the size of the other segments SG1-SG6. Thus, the transmission error immunity of the segment SG0 can be enhanced almost without deteriorating the coding efficiency so as to enhance the quality of the transmission image.