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: A method of encoding an image into a coded image, the method comprising: writing a quantization offset parameter into the coded image, determining a prediction mode type for coding a block of image samples of the image into a coding unit of the coded image, determining a quantization parameter for the block of image samples, and determining if the prediction mode type is of a predetermined type, wherein if the prediction mode type is of the predetermined type, the method further comprises: modifying the determined quantization parameter using the quantization offset parameter, and performing a quantization process for the block of image samples using the modified quantization parameter, and wherein if the prediction mode type is not of the predetermined type, the method further comprises: performing a quantization process for the block of image samples using the determined quantization parameter.

Abstract: A method of performing motion vector prediction for a current block in a picture is provided which includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector predictor to code a current motion vector of the current block, from a first motion vector of a first block that is spatially adjacent or temporally adjacent to the current block; adding the derived candidate to a list of candidates; and deriving at least one motion vector predictor based on a selected candidate from the list of candidates, wherein the deriving of the candidate includes determining whether to derive the candidate from the first motion vector, based on a type of a current reference picture and a type of a first reference picture, the current reference picture being referred to from the current block using the current motion vector, the first reference picture being referred to from the first block using the first motion vector.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: selecting a first picture from plural pictures; setting a first temporal motion vector prediction flag which is associated with the first picture and is a temporal motion vector prediction flag indicating whether or not temporal motion vector prediction is to be used, to indicate that the temporal motion vector prediction is not to be used, and coding the first temporal motion vector prediction flag; coding the first picture without using the temporal motion vector prediction; and coding a second picture which follows the first picture in coding order, with referring to a motion vector of a picture preceding the first picture in coding order being prohibited.

Abstract: A method of encoding video including: writing a plurality of predetermined buffer descriptions into a sequence parameter set of a coded video bitstream; writing a plurality of updating parameters into a slice header of the coded video bitstream for selecting and modifying one buffer description out of the plurality of buffer descriptions; and encoding a slice into the coded video bitstream using the slice header and the modified buffer description.

Abstract: A method of performing motion vector prediction for a current block in a picture is provided which includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector predictor to code a current motion vector of the current block, from a first motion vector of a first block that is spatially adjacent or temporally adjacent to the current block; adding the derived candidate to a list of candidates; and deriving at least one motion vector predictor based on a selected candidate from the list of candidates, wherein the deriving of the candidate includes determining whether to derive the candidate from the first motion vector, based on a type of a current reference picture and a type of a first reference picture, the current reference picture being referred to from the current block using the current motion vector, the first reference picture being referred to from the first block using the first motion vector.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: selecting a first picture from plural pictures; setting a first temporal motion vector prediction flag which is associated with the first picture and is a temporal motion vector prediction flag indicating whether or not temporal motion vector prediction is to be used, to indicate that the temporal motion vector prediction is not to be used, and coding the first temporal motion vector prediction flag; coding the first picture without using the temporal motion vector prediction; and coding a second picture which follows the first picture in coding order, with referring to a motion vector of a picture preceding the first picture in coding order being prohibited.

Abstract: A method of encoding video including: writing a plurality of predetermined buffer descriptions into a sequence parameter set of a coded video bitstream; writing a plurality of updating parameters into a slice header of the coded video bitstream for selecting and modifying one buffer description out of the plurality of buffer descriptions; and encoding a slice into the coded video bitstream using the slice header and the modified buffer description.

Abstract: A video encoding method using a plurality of reference pictures includes: selecting whether or not a resilient picture referencing scheme is to be used for encoding video; writing a parameter indicating the selection into a header of an encoded video bitstream; and encoding a picture using inter-picture prediction using a result of the selection.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: writing, into a sequence parameter set, buffer description defining information for defining a plurality of buffer descriptions; selecting one of the buffer descriptions for each processing unit that is a picture or a slice, and writing buffer description selecting information for specifying the selected buffer description, into a first header of the processing unit which is included in the coded bitstream; and coding the processing unit using the selected buffer description, and the buffer description defining information includes long-term information for identifying, among a plurality of reference pictures indicated in the buffer descriptions, a reference picture to be assigned as a long-term reference picture.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector predictor from a co-located motion vector; adding the candidate to a list; selecting the motion vector predictor from the list; and coding a current block and coding a current motion vector, wherein the deriving includes: deriving the candidate by a first derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of a current reference picture and a co-located reference picture is a long-term reference picture; and deriving the candidate by a second derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of the current reference picture and the co-located reference picture is a short-term reference picture.

Abstract: An image decoding method which can improve both image quality and coding efficiency is an image decoding method for decoding a coded stream which includes a plurality of processing units and a header for the processing units, the coded stream being generated by coding a moving picture, the processing units including at least one processing unit layered to be split into a plurality of smaller processing units, the image decoding method including specifying a hierarchical layer having a processing unit in which a parameter necessary for decoding is stored, by parsing hierarchy depth information stored in the header, and decoding the processing unit using the parameter stored in the processing unit located at the specified hierarchical layer.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: writing, into a sequence parameter set, buffer description defining information for defining a plurality of buffer descriptions; selecting one of the buffer descriptions for each processing unit that is a picture or a slice, and writing buffer description selecting information for specifying the selected buffer description, into a first header of the processing unit which is included in the coded bitstream; and coding the processing unit using the selected buffer description, and the buffer description defining information includes long-term information for identifying, among a plurality of reference pictures indicated in the buffer descriptions, a reference picture to be assigned as a long-term reference picture.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector predictor from a co-located motion vector; adding the candidate to a list; selecting the motion vector predictor from the list; and coding a current block and coding a current motion vector, wherein the deriving includes: deriving the candidate by a first derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of a current reference picture and a co-located reference picture is a long-term reference picture; and deriving the candidate by a second derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of the current reference picture and the co-located reference picture is a short-term reference picture.

Abstract: An image decoding method which can improve both image quality and coding efficiency is an image decoding method for decoding a coded stream which includes a plurality of processing units and a header for the processing units, the coded stream being generated by coding a moving picture, the processing units including at least one processing unit layered to be split into a plurality of smaller processing units, the image decoding method including specifying a hierarchical layer having a processing unit in which a parameter necessary for decoding is stored, by parsing hierarchy depth information stored in the header, and decoding the processing unit using the parameter stored in the processing unit located at the specified hierarchical layer.

Abstract: A video encoding method using a plurality of reference pictures includes: selecting whether or not a resilient picture referencing scheme is to be used for encoding video; writing a parameter indicating the selection into a header of an encoded video bitstream; and encoding a picture using inter-picture prediction using a result of the selection.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector of a current block from a co-located motion vector; adding the candidate to a list; selecting the motion vector of the current block from the list; and coding the current block, wherein the deriving includes: deriving the candidate by a first derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of a current reference picture and a co-located reference picture is a long-term reference picture; and deriving the candidate by a second derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of the current reference picture and the co-located reference picture is a short-term reference picture.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector of a current block from a co-located motion vector; adding the candidate to a list; selecting the motion vector of the current block from the list; and coding the current block, wherein the deriving includes: deriving the candidate by a first derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of a current reference picture and a co-located reference picture is a long-term reference picture; and deriving the candidate by a second derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of the current reference picture and the co-located reference picture is a short-term reference picture.

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 image decoding method decodes a coded stream which includes processing units and a header of the processing units, and which is generated by coding a moving picture using inter prediction. The processing units includes at least one processing unit divided in a hierarchy, the hierarchy including a highest hierarchical layer in which a coding unit exists as a largest processing unit and a lower hierarchical layer in which a prediction unit exists. The method includes identifying, by parsing hierarchy depth information stored in the header and indicating a hierarchical layer higher than a lowest hierarchical layer in which a smallest prediction unit exits, a hierarchical layer which is indicated by the hierarchy depth information or a hierarchical layer higher than the indicated hierarchical layer. The hierarchical layer includes a prediction unit in which a reference index is stored. The prediction unit is decoded using the reference index.