Apparatus and method of editing video data

Abstract

Input video data of sequential GOPs (Group of Pictures) coded according to MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard is edited. The edition is conducted at least at a first edition point and a second edition point of the input video data. The second edition point comes after the first edition point on the time-axis. In the case where the first edition point is located in the midway of a first GOP, decoded are at least a first data portion of the first GOP, the first data portion ranging from the head of the first GOP to the first edition point, and a first entire data of a second GOP followed by the first GOP. On the other hand, in the case where the second edition point is located in the midway of a third GOP that comes after the first GOP on the time-axis, decoded are at least a second data portion of the third GOP, the second data portion ranging from the second edition point to the end of the third GOP, and a second entire data of a fourth GOP that follows the third GOP. The sequential GOPs are constituted by at least the first, second, third and fourth GOPs. The decoded first entire data and first data portion, and the decoded second data portion and second entire data are encoded to form a fifth GOP and a sixth GOP, respectively. The sixth GOP follows the fifth GOP. The fifth and sixth GOPs are put into the sequential GOPs.