Abstract: An image encoding method includes: determining respective decoding times of a plurality of pictures included in a motion picture such that decoding times of a plurality of lower layer picture which do not belong to a highest layer of a plurality of layers are spaced at regular intervals, and decoding timing for each of the plurality of lower layer pictures is identical between a case where the plurality of encoded pictures included in the motion picture are decoded and a case where only the plurality of lower layer pictures are decoded, encoding each of the plurality of pictures included in the motion picture in accordance with the encoding order according to the determined respective decoding times, and generating an encoded stream including the plurality of encoded pictures and the determined respective decoding times for the plurality of pictures.

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: Provided is an encoder which includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry splits an image block into a plurality of partitions, obtains a prediction image for a partition, and encodes the image block using the prediction image. When the partition is not a non-rectangular partition, the circuitry obtains (i) a first prediction image for the partition, (ii) a gradient image for the first prediction image, and (iii) a second prediction image as the prediction image using the first prediction image and the gradient image. When the partition is a non-rectangular partition, the circuitry obtains the first prediction image as the prediction image without using the gradient image.

Abstract: In a method for providing information, menu items included in menu information regarding a second restaurant indicated by a store identifier are arranged in order according to taste information regarding a user on the basis of the taste information and the menu information, the menu information being obtained, over a network before the store identifier is obtained from a terminal apparatus, from a server associated with the second restaurant indicated by the store identifier. Menu information regarding the menu items arranged in the order is transmitted to the terminal apparatus and displayed on a display screen of the terminal apparatus.

Abstract: An encoder that encodes a video includes circuitry and memory connected to the circuitry. In operation, the circuitry: generates a prediction image on a per sub-block basis; and when a sub-block size is 4×4, applies a boundary smoothing process only to sub-block boundaries having boundary positions that are integer multiples of 8.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry and memory coupled to the circuitry. In operation, the circuitry: derives a motion vector of a current block by referring to at least one reference picture different from a picture to which the current block belongs; performs a mode for estimating, for each sub-block unit of sub-blocks obtained by splitting the current block, a surrounding region of the motion vector to correct the motion vector; determines whether to apply deblocking filtering to each of boundaries between neighboring ones of the sub-blocks; and applies the deblocking filtering to the boundary, based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: Provided is an encoder which includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry splits an image block into a plurality of partitions, obtains a prediction image for a partition, and encodes the image block using the prediction image. When the partition is not a non-rectangular partition, the circuitry obtains (i) a first prediction image for the partition, (ii) a gradient image for the first prediction image, and (iii) a second prediction image as the prediction image using the first prediction image and the gradient image. When the partition is a non-rectangular partition, the circuitry obtains the first prediction image as the prediction image without using the gradient image.

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.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a lithium metal composite oxide, wherein the lithium metal composite oxide is represented by a general formula: LiaNi1-x-y-zCoxDyEzO2 (wherein, in the formula, 0.05?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, 0.002?z?0.05, 1.00?a?1.30, an element D is at least one type of element selected from Mn, V, Mo, Nb, Ti, and W, and an element E is an element forming an alloy with lithium at a potential more noble than a potential in which ions of the element E are reduced), wherein the lithium metal composite oxide includes primary and secondary particles formed by aggregating the primary particles, wherein an oxide containing the element E exists at a surface of at least either of the primary and secondary particles.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a lithium transition metal-containing composite oxide, comprising secondary particles formed by aggregates of primary particles. The secondary particles comprise: an outer-shell section formed by an aggregate of the primary particles; at least one aggregate section formed by an aggregate of primary particles and existing on an inside of the outer-shell section, and electrically and structurally connected to the outer-shell section; and at least one space section existing on the inside of the outer-shell section and in which there are no primary particles. The average particle size of the secondary particles being within the range 1 ?m to 15 ?m, an index [(d90-d10)/average particle size] that indicates a spread of a particle size distribution of the secondary particles being 0.7 or less, and the surface area per unit volume being 1.7 m2/cm3 or greater.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery contains a lithium-metal composite oxide. The lithium-metal composite oxide includes lithium, nickel, cobalt, and element M (M) in a mass ratio of Li:Ni:Co:M=1+a:1?x?y:x:y (wherein, ?0.05?a?0.50, 0?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, and the element M is at least one element selected from Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Cr, Mn, V, Mo, W, Nb, Ti, Zr, and Ta), wherein when a line-analysis is performed with STEM-EELS from a surface to a center of the particle in a cross-section of the lithium-metal composite oxide during charging at 4.3 V (vs. Li+/Li), a thickness of an oxygen-release layer, in which an intensity ratio of a peak near 530 eV (1st) to a peak near 545 eV (2nd) at an O-K edge is 0.9 or less, is 200 nm or less, and wherein an index [(d90?d10)/mean volume particle diameter] of a particle size distribution is 1.25 or less.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery contains a lithium metal composite oxide. The lithium metal composite oxide includes lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and element M (M) in a mass ratio of Li:Ni:Co:M=1+a:1?x?y:x:y (wherein ?0.05?a?0.50, 0?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, and the element M is at least one element selected from Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Cr, Mn, V, Mo, W, Nb, Ti, Zr, and Ta), wherein when a line analysis is performed with STEM-EELS from a surface of a particle of the lithium metal composite oxide to a center of the particle in a cross-section of the particle during charging at 4.3 V (vs. Li+/Li), a thickness of an oxygen release layer, in which an intensity ratio of a peak near 530 eV (1st) to a peak near 545 eV (2nd) at an O-K edge is 0.9 or less, is 200 nm or less.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery contains a lithium metal composite oxide. The lithium metal composite oxide includes lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and an element M (M) in a mass ratio of Li:Ni:Co:M=1+a:1?x?y:x:y (wherein ?0.05?a?0.50, 0?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, and the element M is at least one element selected from Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Cr, Mn, V, Mo, W, Nb, Ti, Zr, and Ta), wherein a thickness of a NiO layer is 200 nm or less when a particle of the lithium metal composite oxide during charging at 4.3 V (vs. Li+/Li) is observed by STEM-EDS, and wherein an index [(d90?d10)/mean volume particle diameter] of spread of a particle size distribution is 1.25 or less.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery contains a lithium metal composite oxide. The lithium metal composite oxide includes lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and an element M (M) in a mass ratio of Li:Ni:Co:M=1+a:1?x?y:x:y (wherein ?0.05?a?0.50, 0?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, and the element M is at least one element selected from Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Cr, Mn, V, Mo, W, Nb, Ti, Zr, and Ta), wherein a thickness of a NiO layer is 200 nm or less when a particle of the lithium metal composite oxide during charging at 4.3 V (vs. Li+/Li) is observed by STEM-EDS, and wherein a specific surface area is 0.7 m2/g or more and 2.0 m2/g or less.

Abstract: A metal composite hydroxide represented by a general formula (1): Ni1?x?yCoxMnyMz(OH)2+? (where 0.02?x?0.3, 0.02?y?0.3, 0?z?0.05, and ?0.5???0.5 are satisfied and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Cr, V, Mo, W, Nb, Ti, and Zr), in which the metal composite hydroxide contains a first particle having a core portion inside the particle and a shell portion formed around the core portion and [(D90?D10)/MV] is 0.80 or more.

Abstract: A metal composite hydroxide represented by a general formula (1): Ni1?x?yCoxMnyMz(OH)2+a, in which [(D90?D10)/MV] is 0.80 or more, the metal composite hydroxide contains a first particle having a core portion inside the particle and a shell portion formed around the core portion and a second particle having a uniform composition inside the particle, and the second particle has a similar composition to the shell portion and accounts for 60% or more of a total number of particles of 4 ?m or less in the metal composite hydroxide.

Abstract: A transition metal-containing composite hydroxide comprises secondary particles having: a center portion of fine primary particles; and an outer-shell portion having a high-density layer of plate-shaped primary particles formed outside the center portion, a low-density layer of the fine primary particles formed outside the high-density layer, and an outer-shell layer of the plate-shaped primary particles formed outside the low-density layer. The composite hydroxide is obtained by a method comprising a nucleation step in an oxidizing atmosphere and a particle growth step, the particle growth step comprising: a first stage of maintaining the oxidizing atmosphere; a second stage of switching to and maintaining a non-oxidizing atmosphere; a third stage of switching again to and maintaining the oxidizing atmosphere; and a fourth stage of switching again to and maintaining the non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing a lithium metal composition oxide powder, wherein the lithium metal composition oxide powder is represented by a general formula: LizNi1?x?y?tCoxAlyMtO2+? (where 0<x?0.15, 0<y?0.07, 0?t?0.1, x+y+t?0.16, 0.95?z?1.03, 0???0.15), and M is one or more elements selected from Mg, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W), and wherein Al/(Ni+Co), which is a mass ratio of Al relative to Ni+Co in the lithium metal composition oxide powder after the lithium metal composition oxide powder of 1 kg is water washed of 750 mL, is 90% or higher of that of the lithium metal composition oxide powder before water washing.

Abstract: A metal composite hydroxide represented by a general formula (1): Ni1?x?yCoxMnyMz(OH)2+? (where 0.02?x?0.3, 0.02?y?0.3, 0?z?0.05, and ?0.5???0.5 are satisfied and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Cr, V, Mo, W, Nb, Ti, and Zr), in which the metal composite hydroxide contains a first particle having a core portion inside the particle and a shell portion formed around the core portion and [(D90?D10)/MV] is less than 0.80.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a lithium metal composite oxide, wherein the lithium metal composite oxide is represented by a general formula: LiaNi1?x?y?zCoxDyEzO2 (wherein, in the formula, 0.05?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, 0.002?z?0.05, 1.00?a?1.30, an element D is at least one type of element selected from Mn, V, Mo, Nb, Ti, and W, and an element E is an element forming an alloy with lithium at a potential more noble than a potential in which ions of the element E are reduced), wherein the lithium metal composite oxide includes primary and secondary particles formed by aggregating the primary particles, wherein an oxide containing the element E exists at a surface of at least either of the primary and secondary particles.