Quantization number selecting apparatus for dvcr and method therefor

Abstract

In a quantization number selecting apparatus and method for a DVCR which can simplify the hardware configuration of a quantizer and can efficiently assign a proper quantization number minimizing quantization errors, the apparatus includes a plurality of quantizers serially connected and having each quantization number, for receiving a video segment composed of a plurality of macro-blocks and sequentially performing quantization according to each area number and class number, a plurality of bit-rate calculators for calculating each bit rate by the respective outputs of the plurality of quantizers, a plurality of quantization error summing portions serially connected for calculating quantization errors by the outputs of the plurality of quantizers and sequentially summing the same, and a bit estimator for selecting a quantization number by which each macro-block can be compressed into an adaptive length by the respective outputs of the bit-rate calculators and quantization error summing portions. Also, the method includes the steps of (1) sequentially quantizing a plurality of macro-blocks constituting a video segment, (2) calculating and sequentially summing bit-rates and quantization errors depending on the plurality of quantized macro-blocks, and (3) searching a macro-block having the minimum quantization error based on the calculated and summed bit-rates and quantization errors and allotting a quantization number having an adaptive bit-rate.