ENCODING AND DECODING SYSTEM, DECODING APPARATUS, ENCODING APPARATUS, ENCODING AND DECODING METHOD

An encoding and decoding system includes: a characteristic determining unit which determines whether a sound signal is a speech signal or an audio signal; an encoder which encodes the sound signal into an encoded signal, based on a determination by the characteristic determining unit; a transmitting unit which transmits the encoded signal; a receiving unit which receives the encoded signal; a decoder which decodes the encoded signal; and a packet loss detecting unit which detects a loss of data of the encoded signal and transmits a notification indicating the loss of the data to the characteristic determining unit. Upon receiving the notification indicating the loss of the data, the characteristic determining unit causes the encoder to encode the sound signal portion into a signal portion composed of independently decodable frames.