A class synthesizing circuit classifies an aimed-at data item into one of
a plurality of classes specified in advance, according to a plurality of
data items disposed around the aimed-at data item. A coefficient holding
and class-code selection circuit stores conversion information for the
aimed-at data item, for each class. An estimation-prediction calculation
circuit converts the aimed-at data item to a higher-quality data item
according to the conversion information. The class synthesizing circuit
classifies the aimed-at data item into a different class according to
whether the aimed-at data item is missing.