An information processing apparatus and method for reducing an unnecessary waiting time in a depacketizing process and enabling processing to be easily performed at high speeds applicable to, for example, an encoding apparatus. An analysis unit compares input image data with image data of one previous picture read out from a storage unit. On the basis of the analysis result, a concealment header generation unit generates a concealment header that is referred to by a receiving apparatus at the time of an error concealment process. On the basis of the concealment header, a loss analysis unit performs error concealment for the occurrence of a transmission error by suitably using encoded data stored in a storage unit.