Abstract: An encoder determines, based on a width and a height of a block, whether or not to disable a prediction mode in which the block is split along a partitioning line defined by a distance and an angle and then prediction is performed; and encodes the block with the prediction mode disabled or not disabled according to a result of the determination on whether or not to disable the prediction mode. Here, the distance is the shortest distance between the center of the block and the partitioning line, and the angle is an angle representing a direction from the center of the block toward the partitioning line in the shortest distance. The encoder determines to disable the prediction mode when (i) a width-to-height ratio is at least 8 or (ii) a height-to-width ratio is at least 8.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry and memory coupled to the circuitry. The circuitry, in operation, generates a first coefficient value by applying a CCALF (cross component adaptive loop filtering) process to a first reconstructed image sample of a luma component, generates a second coefficient value by applying an ALF (adaptive loop filtering) process to a second reconstructed image sample of a chroma component, and clips the second coefficient value. The circuitry generates a third coefficient value by adding the first coefficient value to the clipped second coefficient value, and clips the third coefficient value. The circuitry encodes a third reconstructed image sample of the chroma component using the clipped third coefficient value.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry and memory coupled to the circuitry. The circuitry, in response to a first reconstructed image sample being located outside a virtual boundary, duplicates a reconstructed sample located inside and adjacent to the virtual boundary to generate the first reconstructed image sample. The circuitry generates a first coefficient value by applying a CCALF (cross component adaptive loop filtering) process to the first reconstructed image sample of a luma component. The circuitry generates a second coefficient value by applying an ALF (adaptive loop filtering) process to a second reconstructed image sample of a chroma component. The circuitry generates a third coefficient value by adding the first coefficient value to the second coefficient value, and encodes a third reconstructed image sample of the chroma component using the third coefficient value.

Abstract: An encoder partitions into blocks using a set of block partition modes. The set of block partition modes includes a first partition mode for partitioning a first block, and a second block partition mode for partitioning a second block which is one of blocks obtained after the first block is partitioned. When the number of partitions of the first block partition mode is three, the second block is a center block among the blocks obtained after partitioning the first block, and the partition direction of the second block partition mode is same as the partition direction of the first block partition mode, the second block partition mode indicates that the number of partitions is only three. A parameter for identifying the second block partition mode includes a first flag indicating a horizontal or vertical partition direction, and does not include a second flag indicating the number of partitions.

Abstract: An encoder partitions into blocks using a set of block partition modes. The set of block partition modes includes a first partition mode for partitioning a first block, and a second block partition mode for partitioning a second block which is one of blocks obtained after the first block is partitioned. When the number of partitions of the first block partition mode is three, the second block is a center block among the blocks obtained after partitioning the first block, and the partition direction of the second block partition mode is same as the partition direction of the first block partition mode, the second block partition mode indicates that the number of partitions is only three. A parameter for identifying the second block partition mode includes a first flag indicating a horizontal or vertical partition direction, and does not include a second flag indicating the number of partitions.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry and memory connected to the circuitry. The circuitry: derives an absolute value of a sum of horizontal gradient values; derives, as a first parameter, the total sum of the absolute values of horizontal gradient values; derives, as a second parameter, the total sum of the absolute values of vertical gradient values; derives a horizontal-related pixel difference value; derives, as a third parameter, the total sum of the absolute values of horizontal-related pixel difference values; derives a vertical-related pixel difference value; derives, as a fourth parameter, the total sum of the absolute values of vertical-related pixel difference values; and generates a prediction image using the first to fourth parameters.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry and a memory coupled to the circuitry, wherein the circuitry, in operation, performs a partition process. The partition process includes calculating first values of a set of pixels between a first partition and a second partition in a current block, using a first motion vector for the first partition; calculating second values of the set of pixels, using a second motion vector for the second partition; and calculating third values of the set of pixels by weighting the first values and the second values. When a ratio of a width to a height of the current block is larger than 4 or a ratio of the height to the width of the current block is larger than 4, the circuitry disables the partition process.

Abstract: An encoder that encodes a current block in a picture includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and encodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.

Abstract: An encoder partitions into blocks using a set of block partition modes. The set of block partition modes includes a first partition mode for partitioning a first block, and a second block partition mode for partitioning a second block which is one of blocks obtained after the first block is partitioned. When the number of partitions of the first block partition mode is three, the second block is a center block among the blocks obtained after partitioning the first block, and the partition direction of the second block partition mode is same as the partition direction of the first block partition mode, the second block partition mode indicates that the number of partitions is only three. A parameter for identifying the second block partition mode includes a first flag indicating a horizontal or vertical partition direction, and does not include a second flag indicating the number of partitions.

Abstract: An image encoder includes: circuitry; and a memory coupled to the circuitry. The circuitry, in operation: calculates first values of a current block using intra prediction, the intra prediction being limited to planar mode, the planar mode using multiple reference pixels for each pixel location of the current block; calculates second values of the current block using inter prediction; calculates third values of the current block by weighting the first values and the second values; and encodes the current block using the third values, and in the calculating of the third values, a first weight is applied to the first values and a second weight is applied to the second values, the second weight being different from the first weight.

Abstract: An image encoder includes: circuitry; and a memory coupled to the circuitry. The circuitry, in operation: calculates first values of a current block using intra prediction, the intra prediction being limited to planar mode, the planar mode using multiple reference pixels for each pixel location of the current block; calculates second values of the current block using inter prediction; calculates third values of the current block by weighting the first values and the second values; and encodes the current block using the third values, and in the calculating of the third values, a first weight is applied to the first values and a second weight is applied to the second values, the second weight being different from the first weight.

Abstract: An encoder that encodes a current block in a picture includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and encodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.

Abstract: An encoder includes: circuitry; and memory coupled to the circuitry. In the encoder, in operation, the circuitry: performs calculation that involves multiplication and from which a plurality of discrete integers are yieldable as a calculation result, to derive one of the plurality of discrete integers as a quantization parameter threshold; and when orthogonal transform is skipped for a current block of an image, determines a quantization parameter value for the current block, using the quantization parameter threshold. The calculation involves multiplying a first value by a first fixed value, the first value and the first fixed value being each an integer. The first value is a limit value to be included in a header of a bitstream.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: writing, into a sequence parameter set, buffer description defining information for defining a plurality of buffer descriptions; writing, into the sequence parameter set, reference list description defining information for defining a plurality of reference list descriptions corresponding to the buffer descriptions; and writing, into a first header of each processing unit which is included in a coded bitstream, buffer description selecting information for specifying a selected buffer description.

Abstract: An encoder that encodes a current block in a picture includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and encodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.

Abstract: An encoder that encodes a current block in a picture includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and encodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry and memory coupled to the circuitry. The circuitry, in operation, determines whether a first block is available and whether a second block is available, the first block and the second block being defined relative to a current block to be processed; selects a context model based on whether the first block is available, whether the second block is available, which of inter prediction and intra prediction is to be applied to the first block, and which of inter prediction and intra prediction is to be applied to the second block; and encodes, using the context model selected, a parameter indicating which of intra prediction and inter prediction is to be applied to the current block.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry and a memory coupled to the circuitry. The circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a ternary split process of splitting a block into three sub blocks in a first direction parallel to a first longer side of the block is allowed by comparing a size of a second shorter side of the block to a minimum threshold value. The circuitry, responsive to the ternary split process being allowed, writes, into a bitstream, a split direction parameter indicative of a splitting direction. The circuitry, in operation, splits the block into a plurality of sub blocks in a direction indicated by the split direction parameter; and encodes the plurality of sub blocks. The minimum threshold value corresponds to a minimum size supported in a transform process.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry, in operation, selects an encoding mode from among candidates including a decoder-side motion vector refinement (DMVR) encoding mode and a partition encoding mode. When the DMVR encoding mode is selected, the circuitry: obtains a first motion vector for a first image block; derives a second motion vector from the first motion vector using motion search; and generates a prediction image for the first image block using the second motion vector. When the partition encoding mode is selected, the circuitry: determines a plurality of partitions in a second image block; obtains a third motion vector for each partition; and generates a prediction image for the second image block using the third motion vector, without deriving a fourth motion vector from the third motion vector using motion search.

Abstract: A decoder includes circuitry which, in operation, parses a first flag indicating whether a CCALF (cross component adaptive loop filtering) process is enabled for a first block located adjacent to a left side of a current block; parses a second flag indicating whether the CCALF process is enabled for a second block located adjacent to an upper side of the current block; determines a first index associated with a color component of the current block; and derives a second index indicating a context model, using the first flag, the second flag, and the first index. The circuitry, in operation, performs entropy decoding of a third flag indicating whether the CCALF process is enabled for the current block, using the context model indicated by the second index; and performs the CCALF process on the current block in response to the third flag indicating the CCALF process is enabled for the current block.