Image coding apparatus and method

Abstract

An image coding apparatus includes: a division unit configured to divide a coding target picture included in an input video signal into a plurality of slices each including one or more data blocks; a coding unit configured to code the video signal in a unit of the slice divided by the division unit; and a setting unit configured to set at least one of a division position of the slice and a number of divisions of the slice, to the division unit. In the image coding apparatus, the setting unit sets at least one of the division position of the slice and the number of divisions of the slice so that slice boundaries differ from each other between adjacent pictures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image coding apparatus which codes a video signal, the image coding apparatus comprising:
 a division unit configured to divide a picture represented by the video signal into a plurality of regions;   a prediction unit configured to perform a prediction process for each region in the plurality of regions by using an intra picture prediction or an inter picture prediction;   a coding unit configured to code the video signal in which the prediction process is performed by the prediction unit; and   a setting unit configured to set a division position to divide the plurality of regions, wherein   the division position in the picture is variably set by the setting unit, and   the prediction unit performs the prediction process according to the division position set by the setting unit.   
     
     
         2 . The image coding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the prediction unit includes a motion estimation unit configured to perform a motion vector detection related to the inter picture prediction, and
 the motion estimation unit inhibits the motion vector detection traversing a boundary of the plurality of regions, according to the division position set by the setting unit.   
     
     
         3 . The image coding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the prediction unit restricts the intra picture prediction within same region, according to the division position set by the setting unit. 
     
     
         4 . The image coding apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an attribute determination unit configured to determine an attribute of each region in the plurality of regions, wherein the attribute determination unit determines the attribute to set an intra prediction coding type for apart of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         5 . An image coding apparatus which codes a video signal, the image coding apparatus comprising:
 a division unit configured to divide a picture represented by the video signal into a plurality of regions;   a prediction unit configured to perform a prediction process for each region in the plurality of regions by using an intra picture prediction or an inter picture prediction;   a coding unit configured to code the video signal in which the prediction process is performed by the prediction unit; and   a setting unit configured to set a number of division to divide the plurality of regions, wherein   the number of division in the picture is variably set by the setting unit, and   the prediction unit performs the prediction process according to the number of division set by the setting unit.   
     
     
         6 . The image coding apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the prediction unit includes a motion estimation unit configured to perform a motion vector detection related to the inter picture prediction, and
 the motion estimation unit inhibits the motion vector detection traversing a boundary of the plurality of regions, according to the number of division set by the setting unit.   
     
     
         7 . The image coding apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the prediction unit restricts the intra picture prediction within same region, according to the number of division set by the setting unit. 
     
     
         8 . The image coding apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising an attribute determination unit configured to determine an attribute of each region in the plurality of regions, wherein the attribute determination unit determines the attribute to set an intra prediction coding type for apart of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         9 . An image coding method to code a video signal, comprising:
 dividing a picture represented by the video signal into a plurality of regions;   performing a prediction process for each region in the plurality of regions by using an intra picture prediction or an inter picture prediction;   coding the video signal in which the prediction process is performed by the prediction unit; and   setting a division position to divide the plurality of regions, wherein   the division position in the picture is variably set, and the prediction process is performed according to the division position.   
     
     
         10 . An image coding method to code a video signal, comprising:
 dividing a picture represented by the video signal into a plurality of regions;   performing a prediction process for each region in the plurality of regions by using an intra picture prediction or an inter picture prediction;   coding the video signal in which the prediction process is performed; and   setting a number of divisions to divide the plurality of regions, wherein   the number of divisions in the picture is variably set, and the prediction process is performed according to the number of divisions.   
     
     
         11 . Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute operations for coding a video signal, the computer program comprising computer-executable instructions according to the method of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute operations for coding a video signal, the computer program comprising computer-executable instructions according to the method of  claim 10 .