Digital signal coding methods and apparatus, signal recording media, and signal transmission methods

A safe multiplex schedule for digital signal coding and/or transmission can be established, minimising signal deterioration even when a delay amount in a coded signal buffer is reduced. An input video signal (S1) from a terminal (10) is supplied to a frame memory (11). An image coding controller (12) reads in a video signal (S11) from the frame memory (11) and calculates an assignment coding bit amount (S12) for coding each of the pictures and a picture coding parameter (S17). A video encoder (13) executes coding processing according to these information items (S12 and S17). The assignment coding bit amount (S12) and the coding parameter (S17) are also supplied to a multiplex scheduler (22) where a multiplex schedule is established so as to prevent destruction of a buffer on the decoder side.