Image processing apparatus and method for reproducing at least an image from a digital data sequence

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems and to provide a function of reproducing information which pertains to a main image or which is desired occasionally, even if it does not pertain to the main image, at least in the form of an image.
In order to achieve the above object, a preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses an image processing apparatus comprising inputting means for inputting a data stream of MPEG 2; detecting means for detecting a data stream of MPEG 4 inserted into the data stream of MPEG 2; separating means for separating the data stream of MPEG2 and/or the data stream of MPEG 4 to a plurality of data; decoding means for decoding the separated data; and controlling means for controlling at least reproduction of image data decoded by said decoding means based on a result of said detecting means.
Also, a preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses an image processing method comprising the steps of inputting a data stream of MPEG 2; detecting a data stream of MPEG 4 inserted into the data stream of MPEG 2; separating the data stream of MPEG2 and/or the data stream of MPEG 4 to a plurality of data; decoding the separated data; and controlling at least reproduction of image data decoded by said decoding means based on a result of the detection.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.