Abstract: An encoder which encodes a picture includes processing circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the processing circuitry: splits the picture into a plurality of slice segments; encodes a plurality of blocks included in each of the plurality of slice segments; reconstructs the plurality of blocks encoded; adds, for each of the plurality of slice segments, control information to a header area of the slice segment, the control information being for controlling application of a filter to the slice segment; and applies, for each of the plurality of slice segments, the filter to a block which has been reconstructed in the slice segment, according to the control information of the slice segment.

Abstract: Provided is an image encoding method which inhibits deterioration in processing performance for encoding while improving transmission efficiency. The image encoding method is for generating a bitstream by encoding a picture, and includes: sequentially encoding blocks included in the picture; deriving an encoding amount of a slice segment each time one of the blocks is encoded as a current block, the slice segment including the current block; determining whether the encoding amount derived is at least a threshold; and setting end information indicating an end of the slice segment in a position in the bitstream when the encoding amount is determined to be at least the threshold, the position corresponding to the current block encoded.

Abstract: An encoder which encodes a picture includes processing circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the processing circuitry: splits the picture into a plurality of slice segments; encodes a plurality of blocks included in each of the plurality of slice segments; reconstructs the plurality of blocks encoded; adds, for each of the plurality of slice segments, control information to a header area of the slice segment, the control information being for controlling application of a filter to the slice segment; and applies, for each of the plurality of slice segments, the filter to a block which has been reconstructed in the slice segment, according to the control information of the slice segment.

Abstract: Provided is an image encoding method which inhibits deterioration in processing performance for encoding while improving transmission efficiency. The image encoding method is for generating a bitstream by encoding a picture, and includes: sequentially encoding blocks included in the picture; deriving an encoding amount of a slice segment each time one of the blocks is encoded as a current block, the slice segment including the current block; determining whether the encoding amount derived is at least a threshold; and setting end information indicating an end of the slice segment in a position in the bitstream when the encoding amount is determined to be at least the threshold, the position corresponding to the current block encoded.

Abstract: The image encoding apparatus which encodes, on a per block basis, a current picture included in a moving picture includes: an encoder which outputs a first encoded stream including, in the following arrangement order, (i) slice data obtained by encoding a slice included in the current picture and including a plurality of block lines and (ii) a slice header including information indicating a code amount of each of the plurality of block lines; and an exchanger which exchanges arrangement positions of the slice data and the slice header in the first encoded stream.

Abstract: A moving picture encoding apparatus encodes a moving picture having an interlaced structure, and includes: a storage which stores fields as reference pictures; and an encoder which encodes a current field as a B-picture, using a first reference picture list which includes only one field in a same parity as the current field, and a second reference picture list which includes only one field in an opposite parity to the current field.

Abstract: A moving picture encoding apparatus encodes a moving picture having an interlaced structure, and includes: a storage which stores fields as reference pictures; and an encoder which encodes a current field as a B-picture, using a first reference picture list which includes only one field in a same parity as the current field, and a second reference picture list which includes only one field in an opposite parity to the current field.

Abstract: The image encoding apparatus which encodes, on a per block basis, a current picture included in a moving picture includes: an encoder which outputs a first encoded stream including, in the following arrangement order, (i) slice data obtained by encoding a slice included in the current picture and including a plurality of block lines and (ii) a slice header including information indicating a code amount of each of the plurality of block lines; and an exchanger which exchanges arrangement positions of the slice data and the slice header in the first encoded stream.

Abstract: The image coding method according to the present invention includes the following steps. At a histogram calculation step, a histogram of pixel values included in a block image is calculated. At a plane region detection step, a size of a plane region included in the block image is detected. At an orthogonal transformation size selection step, (i) a first processing size is selected as a processing size of orthogonal transformation for the block image when the histogram is bimodal and the size of the plane region is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, and (ii) a second processing size greater than the first processing size is selected as the processing size, when that the histogram is not bimodal or the size of the plane region is smaller than the first threshold value.

Abstract: The image coding method according to the present invention includes the following steps. At a histogram calculation step, a histogram of pixel values included in a block image is calculated. At a plane region detection step, a size of a plane region included in the block image is detected. At an orthogonal transformation size selection step, (i) a first processing size is selected as a processing size of orthogonal transformation for the block image when the histogram is bimodal and the size of the plane region is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, and (ii) a second processing size greater than the first processing size is selected as the processing size, when that the histogram is not bimodal or the size of the plane region is smaller than the first threshold value.

Abstract: It is decided whether a processing target block includes an edge in accordance with an edge detection result of the processing target block. In the case where the edge is included, it is then detected whether there is a flat portion. It is decided whether the processing target block includes the flat portion in accordance with a flat portion detection result. In the case where the flat portion is included, one of a first group of orthogonal transform sizes is selected. In the case where the edge is not included or the flat portion is not included, one of a second group of orthogonal transform sizes greater than the first group of orthogonal transform sizes is selected.

Abstract: A picture decoding device (100) comprises a decoding unit (30), a frame memory (40), a deblocking filter (50), a macro block memory (60), and a control unit (70). The macro block memory (60) stores an unfiltered picture data, for which deblock-filtering is not performed, of the macro blocks adjoining a slice boundary. Decoding and deblock-filtering are performed for the macro blocks of each slice in a manner of pipeline processing, and the decoded picture data for the macro blocks is stored in the frame memory (40). After the pipeline processing for all of the macro blocks is completed, the second deblock-filtering is performed to the slice boundary-adjoining macro blocks, and the pixel values of the slice boundary-adjoining macro blocks already stored in the frame memory (40) are replaced. Thereby, the encoded picture data of arbitrary slice order can be completely decoded.

Abstract: It is decided whether a processing target block includes an edge in accordance with an edge detection result of the processing target block. In the case where the edge is included, it is then detected whether there is a flat portion. It is decided whether the processing target block includes the flat portion in accordance with a flat portion detection result. In the case where the flat portion is included, one of a first group of orthogonal transform sizes is selected. In the case where the edge is not included or the flat portion is not included, one of a second group of orthogonal transform sizes greater than the first group of orthogonal transform sizes is selected.

Abstract: There is a problem of increasing image quality deterioration when selection of an intra prediction mode for a face outline portion is not correct at a low bit-rate. This invention includes: a face detection unit detecting a face image from an input picture; and an intra prediction mode control unit controlling intra prediction mode selection based on a result of the detection of the face detection unit. In the control of intra prediction mode selection, an intra prediction mode is selected based on where a current block is positioned in a region of the face image. Thereby, an appropriate intra prediction mode can be selected for the face outline portion. As a result, image quality deterioration on the face image at a low bit-rate can be prevented.

Abstract: An image encoding method according to the present invention calculates first difference information of an encoding target block and second difference information of an adjacent block, calculates a difference between the first difference information and the second difference information, and uses an intra mode only for blocks where a residual image noise occurs by selecting the intra mode when the difference is larger than a predetermined threshold, and selecting an inter mode when the difference is smaller than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A picture decoding device (100) comprises a decoding unit (30), a frame memory (40), a deblocking filter (50), a macro block memory (60), and a control unit (70). The macro block memory (60) stores an unfiltered picture data, for which deblock-filtering is not performed, of the macro blocks adjoining a slice boundary. Decoding and deblock-filtering are performed for the macro blocks of each slice in a manner of pipeline processing, and the decoded picture data for the macro blocks is stored in the frame memory (40). After the pipeline processing for all of the macro blocks is completed, the second deblock-filtering is performed to the slice boundary-adjoining macro blocks, and the pixel values of the slice boundary-adjoining macro blocks already stored in the frame memory (40) are replaced. Thereby, the encoded picture data of arbitrary slice order can be completely decoded.