Method and apparatus for encoding a contour image of an object in a video signal

摘要

A method for encoding a contour of an object decides a plurality of primary vertices on the contour based on a polygonal approximation technique and also determines a multiplicity of secondary vertices on the contour which are disposed at one of a predetermined set of locations away from a previously determined secondary vertex. Then, the method encodes position information of the primary vertices to provide encoded primary vertex data and codes position information of the secondary vertices to provide coded secondary vertex data. Finally, either the encoded primary vertex data or the coded secondary vertex data is selected as encoded contour data in response to a selection signal which is generated by estimating an encoding error with a threshold TH and the encoded contour data is provided to a transmitter for the transmission thereof.