Image processing apparatus and method thereof

Abstract

The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus and method capable of preventing an increase in a cost of the apparatus. A setting unit sets restriction information for restricting a size of a block of an image and a prediction method to be applied to the block having the size. An inter-prediction unit generates a prediction image according to the restriction information. An encoder 1000 encodes the block using the prediction image and generates an encoded stream. Then, the encoder 1000 transmits the encoded stream and the restriction information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing apparatus, comprising:
 circuitry configured to:
 set restriction information based on a maximum required value of a memory bandwidth, wherein
 the restriction information is set for generation of a prediction image, and 
 the memory bandwidth is a transmission rate at which a decoded image is read out from a memory; 
 
 generate the prediction image based on the set restriction information; 
 calculate a difference between an input image and the prediction image; 
 encode the calculated difference between the input image and the prediction image; and 
 generate, based on the prediction image, an encoded stream including the set restriction information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to set the restriction information to prohibit bidirectional prediction to be applied to a partitioned image block. 
     
     
         3 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a size of the partitioned image block is one of 4×4, 8×4, 4×8, or 8×8. 
     
     
         4 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the set restriction information limits, based on the memory bandwidth, an application of a specific prediction method to a block of a specific size. 
     
     
         5 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the specific prediction method is at least one of a bidirectional prediction or a unidirectional prediction. 
     
     
         6 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to set the restriction information based on at least one of profile information or level information. 
     
     
         7 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the circuitry is further configured to set the restriction information to restrict a specific prediction method to be applied to a block of a specific size,   the restriction of the specific prediction method is based on a size of the input image, and   the size of the input image is represented by at least one of the profile information or the level information.   
     
     
         8 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the specific prediction method is at least one of a bidirectional prediction or a unidirectional prediction. 
     
     
         9 . An image processing method, comprising:
 setting restriction information based on a maximum required value of a memory bandwidth, wherein
 the restriction information is set for generation of a prediction image, and 
 the memory bandwidth is a transmission rate at which a decoded image is read out from a memory; 
   generating the prediction image based on the set restriction information;   calculating a difference between an input image and the prediction image;   encoding the calculated difference between the input image and the prediction image; and   generating, based on the prediction image, an encoded stream including the set restriction information.   
     
     
         10 . The image processing method according to  claim 9 , further comprising setting the restriction information to prohibit bidirectional prediction to be applied to a partitioned image block. 
     
     
         11 . The image processing method according to  claim 10 , wherein a size of the partitioned image block is one of 4×4, 8×4, 4×8, or 8×8. 
     
     
         12 . The image processing method according to  claim 9 , wherein the set restriction information limits, based on the memory bandwidth, an application of a specific prediction method to a block of a specific size. 
     
     
         13 . The image processing method according to  claim 12 , wherein the specific prediction method is at least one of a bidirectional prediction or a unidirectional prediction. 
     
     
         14 . The image processing method according to  claim 9 , further comprising setting the restriction information based on at least one of profile information or level information. 
     
     
         15 . The image processing method according to  claim 14 , further comprising setting the restriction information to restrict a specific prediction method to be applied to a block of a specific size, wherein
 the restriction of the specific prediction method is based on a size of the input image, and   the size of the input image is represented by at least one of the profile information or the level information.   
     
     
         16 . The image processing method according to  claim 15 , wherein the specific prediction method is at least one of a bidirectional prediction or a unidirectional prediction.