Patent US 6,236,680

A motion image encoding apparatus for a current image containing an object uses mesh representation for encoding a motion image. The encoding apparatus includes an object extractor for extracting the object contained in the current image from received current image data and outputting object contour data indicating a contour of the extracted object. A predictive encoder performs a predictive encoding operation using the current image data, prestored data of a reference image, and control points of meshes which divide one of the current image and the reference image, and generates motion information relating to the control points, differential data between the current image and the reference image, and predictive image data. An object difference generator selects differential data in an object region among the differential data supplied from the predictive encoder to encode the selected differential data based on the object contour data output from the object extractor, and generates the selected differential data and the encoded differential data. An adder receives and adds the predictive image data output from the predictive encoder and the differential data selected in the object difference generator, and updates the reference image data prestored in the predictive encoder using the image data obtained by the addition result.