JP6256572B2 - Image decoding apparatus, image decoding method, and image decoding program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image decoding technique, and more particularly to an image decoding technique using predictive coding of quantization parameters.

  MPEG-2 Part 2 (hereinafter referred to as MPEG-2) and MPEG-4 Part 10 / H. In digital video coding such as H.264 (hereinafter referred to as AVC), an image is divided into blocks of a predetermined size and coded to indicate the roughness of quantization for a prediction error signal (or simply an image signal). Transmit quantization parameters. By variably controlling the quantization parameter in units of predetermined blocks on the encoding side, it is possible to control the code amount and improve the subjective image quality.

  As a control of the quantization parameter for improving the subjective image quality, Adaptive Quantization (adaptive quantization) is often used. In adaptive quantization, it is changed according to the activity of each macroblock so that it is quantized more finely in the flat part that is visually noticeable, and coarser in the complicated part of the pattern that is relatively inconspicuous. . That is, in a macroblock with a high activity that tends to have a large allocated bit amount when encoded, the quantization parameter is changed so that a large quantization scale is set. Subjective image quality is improved while controlling the number of bits to be as small as possible in the data.

  In MPEG-2, it is determined whether the quantization parameter of the previous block and the quantization parameter of the block to be encoded are the same in the encoding / decoding order, and if not, the quantization parameter is transmitted. To do. In AVC, the quantization parameter of the previous block in the encoding / decoding order is used as a prediction value, and the quantization parameter of the encoding target block is differentially encoded. This is based on the fact that since the code amount control is generally performed in the coding order, the quantization parameter of the previous block in the coding order is closest to the quantization parameter of the coding block. It aims to suppress the amount of information of the conversion parameter.

JP 2011-91772 A

  In the conventional quantization parameter control, the difference between the quantization parameter of the block to be encoded is calculated using the quantization parameter of the immediately preceding block as the prediction quantization parameter, and the calculated difference quantization parameter. The amount of code of the quantization parameter was reduced by encoding. However, assuming that the quantization parameter of the immediately preceding block is the predicted quantization parameter, there is a problem that when the quantization parameter control by adaptive quantization is performed, the differential quantization parameter becomes large and the code amount increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving the coding efficiency by reducing the code amount of the quantization parameter.

An image decoding apparatus for decoding a bitstream in which a differential quantization parameter is encoded in units of a quantization decoding block, which is a unit for managing a quantization parameter obtained by dividing the image, the image decoding apparatus comprising: A decoding unit that performs decoding in units of the quantized decoding block and extracts a differential quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded; and a prediction quantization parameter derivation that derives a prediction quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded A quantization parameter derivation unit that derives a quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded by adding the difference quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded and the prediction quantization parameter, The predictive quantization parameter deriving unit performs decoding order on the quantization decoding block to be decoded. The prediction quantization parameter is derived using the quantization parameters of the immediately preceding two quantization decoding blocks, and an average value of the quantization parameters of the two quantization decoding blocks is used as the prediction quantization parameter, An image decoding apparatus is provided.
An image decoding method for decoding a bitstream in which a differential quantization parameter is encoded in units of a quantization decoding block, which is a quantization parameter management unit obtained by dividing the image, wherein the bitstream is decoded A decoding step of decoding in units of the quantized decoding block and extracting a differential quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded; and a prediction quantization parameter derivation of deriving a prediction quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded And a quantization parameter derivation step for deriving the quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded by adding the difference quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded and the prediction quantization parameter. The predictive quantization parameter derivation step includes the decoding target quantization decoding. The prediction quantization parameter is derived using the quantization parameters of the two previous quantization decoding blocks in decoding order with respect to the block, and an average value of the quantization parameters of the two quantization decoding blocks is calculated by the prediction quantization Provided is an image decoding method characterized by being a parameter.
An image decoding program that decodes a bitstream in which a differential quantization parameter is encoded in units of a quantization decoding block that is a quantization parameter management unit obtained by dividing the image. A decoding step of decoding in units of the quantized decoding block and extracting a differential quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded; and a prediction quantization parameter derivation of deriving a prediction quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded And a quantization parameter deriving step of deriving a quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded by adding the difference quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded and the prediction quantization parameter to the computer Executing the predictive quantization parameter derivation step, The prediction quantization parameter is derived using the quantization parameters of the two previous quantization decoding blocks in the decoding order with respect to the quantization decoding block to be decoded, and the quantization parameters of the two quantization decoding blocks are calculated. An image decoding program characterized by using an average value as the predicted quantization parameter is provided.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the coding efficiency by reducing the code amount of the quantization parameter.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the moving image encoder which comprised the derivation | leading-out method of the prediction quantization parameter which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the moving image decoding apparatus provided with the derivation method of the prediction quantization parameter which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure explaining the code amount control in the screen of MPEG-2 TM5. It is a figure which shows the quantization parameter prediction method of AVC. It is a figure which shows an example of the encoding process order at the time of using hierarchy tree encoding. It is a figure which shows an example of the prediction of the quantization parameter of the quantization coding block at the upper left inside the tree block divided | segmented by hierarchy tree coding. It is a figure which shows an example of the prediction of the quantization parameter of the lower left quantization coding block inside the tree block divided | segmented by hierarchy tree coding. It is a figure which shows an example of the prediction of the quantization parameter of the quantization coding block at the upper left inside the tree block divided | segmented by hierarchy tree coding. In the code amount control in the screen of MPEG-2 TM5, it is a figure explaining the position of the encoding block adjacent up and down. It is a figure showing an example of the encoding table of a difference quantization parameter. It is a figure which shows the relationship between an encoding object tree block and an encoded tree block. It is a figure which shows the prediction origin of the quantization coding block at the upper left inside the tree block divided | segmented by hierarchy tree coding. It is a figure which shows the prediction origin of the quantization coding block of the upper right inside the tree block divided | segmented by hierarchy tree coding. It is a figure which shows the prediction origin of the quantization coding block of the lower left inside the tree block divided | segmented by hierarchy tree coding. It is a figure which shows the prediction origin of the quantization coding block of the lower right inside the tree block divided | segmented by hierarchy tree coding. It is a flowchart of prediction quantization parameter derivation. It is a figure which shows the example of the calculation process of a prediction quantization parameter. It is a figure explaining an example of a quantization coding block. It is a figure showing the relationship between the quantization encoding block and tree block which adjoin spatially.

  The embodiment of the present invention divides a picture into rectangular blocks of a predetermined size, further divides the block into one or a plurality of quantization coding blocks that are units for managing quantization parameters, and performs quantization coding. In image coding in which differential quantization parameters are transmitted in units of blocks, in order to reduce the amount of coding of the quantization parameters of the block to be processed, the optimal prediction quantization parameter is determined from the coding information of a plurality of coded blocks. The code amount control technique for calculating and calculating the difference from the prediction quantization parameter is provided.

(Embodiment 1)
A preferred moving image encoding apparatus 100 and moving image decoding apparatus 200 that implement the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a moving picture coding apparatus 100 that implements the present invention, in which an image memory 101, a residual signal generation unit 102, an orthogonal transform / quantization unit 103, and a second encoded bit string generation unit. 104, an inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 105, a decoded image signal superimposing unit 106, a decoded image memory 107, a predicted image generation unit 108, an activity calculation unit 109, a quantization parameter calculation unit 110, a differential quantization parameter generation unit 111, A first encoded bit string generation unit 112, an encoded information storage memory 113, a predicted quantization parameter derivation unit 114, and an encoded bit string multiplexing unit 115 are configured. The thick solid arrows connecting the blocks represent picture image signals, and the thin solid arrows represent the flow of parameter signals for controlling encoding.

  The image memory 101 temporarily stores image signals to be encoded supplied in the order of shooting / display time. The image memory 101 supplies the stored image signal to be encoded to the residual signal generation unit 102, the predicted image generation unit 108, and the activity calculation unit 109 in units of predetermined pixel blocks. At this time, the images stored in the order of shooting / display time are rearranged in the encoding order and output from the image memory 101 in units of pixel blocks.

  The residual signal generation unit 102 subtracts the image signal to be encoded from the prediction signal generated by the prediction image generation unit 108 to generate a residual signal, and supplies the residual signal to the orthogonal transform / quantization unit 103.

  The orthogonal transform / quantization unit 103 performs orthogonal transform and quantization on the residual signal using the quantization parameter calculated by the quantization parameter calculation unit 110, and converts the residual signal that has been orthogonally transformed / quantized into the residual signal. It is generated and supplied to the second encoded bit string generation unit 104 and the inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 105.

  The second encoded bit sequence generation unit 104 generates a second encoded bit sequence by entropy encoding the orthogonally transformed and quantized residual signal according to a prescribed syntax rule, and the encoded bit sequence multiplexing unit 115 Supply.

  The inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 105 reverses the orthogonal transform / quantized residual signal supplied from the orthogonal transform / quantization unit 103 using the quantization parameter calculated by the quantization parameter calculation unit 110. A residual signal is calculated by performing quantization and inverse orthogonal transform, and supplied to the decoded image signal superimposing unit 106.

  The decoded image signal superimposing unit 106 superimposes the predicted image signal generated by the predicted image generating unit 108 and the residual signal subjected to inverse quantization and inverse orthogonal transform by the inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 105 to generate a decoded image. It is generated and stored in the decoded image memory 107. The decoded image may be subjected to a filtering process for reducing distortion such as block distortion due to encoding, and may be stored in the decoded image memory 107. In that case, a post filter such as a deblocking filter may be used as necessary. Predicted encoded information such as a flag for identifying the information is stored in the encoded information storage memory 113.

  The predicted image generation unit 108 uses an image signal supplied from the image memory 101 and a decoded image signal supplied from the decoded image memory 107, based on a prediction mode, intra-picture prediction (intra prediction) or inter-picture prediction (inter prediction). To generate a predicted image signal. Intra prediction is a coding target block obtained by dividing an image signal supplied from the image memory 101 in units of a predetermined block and a coding target block supplied from the decoded image memory 107 in the same picture. A prediction image signal is generated using pixel signals of surrounding encoded blocks adjacent to the conversion target block. The inter prediction is stored in the decoded image memory 107 that precedes or follows the time series of the picture (encoded picture) of the block to be encoded obtained by dividing the image signal supplied from the image memory 101 in a predetermined block unit. The coded picture is used as a reference picture, block matching is performed between the coded picture and the reference picture, a motion vector indicating the amount of motion is obtained, motion compensation is performed from the reference picture based on this amount of motion, and prediction is performed. An image signal is generated. The predicted image signal generated in this way is supplied to the residual signal generation unit 102. Coding information such as a motion vector obtained by the predicted image generation unit 108 is stored in the coding information storage memory 113 as necessary. Furthermore, when a plurality of prediction modes can be selected, the prediction image generation unit 108 evaluates the distortion amount between the generated prediction image signal and the original image signal, and thereby selects an optimum prediction mode. The prediction image signal generated by the prediction in the determined prediction mode is selected and supplied to the residual signal generation unit 102. When the prediction mode is intra prediction, the intra prediction mode is selected as the encoded information storage memory. 113 and the first encoded bit string generator.

  The activity calculation unit 109 calculates an activity that is a coefficient indicating the complexity and smoothness of the image of the encoding target block supplied from the image memory 101, and supplies it to the quantization parameter calculation unit 110. The detailed configuration and operation of the activity calculation unit 109 will be described later.

  The quantization parameter calculation unit 110 calculates the quantization parameter of the block to be encoded based on the activity calculated by the activity calculation unit 109, and supplies the quantization parameter to the differential quantization parameter generation unit 111 and the encoded information storage memory 113. . The detailed configuration and operation of the quantization parameter calculation unit 110 will be described later.

  The difference quantization parameter generation unit 111 performs subtraction on the quantization parameter calculated by the quantization parameter calculation unit 110 and the prediction quantization parameter derived by the prediction quantization parameter derivation unit 114, thereby obtaining a difference quantum. The calculation parameter is calculated and supplied to the first encoded bit string generation unit 112.

  The first encoded bit sequence generation unit 112 generates a first encoded bit sequence by encoding the differential quantization parameter calculated by the differential quantization parameter generation unit 111 according to a specified syntax rule, and generates an encoded bit sequence multiplexed To the conversion unit 115.

  The encoding information storage memory 113 stores the quantization parameter of the block that has been encoded. Although the connection is not shown in FIG. 1, the encoding information such as the prediction mode and the motion vector generated by the prediction image generation unit 108 is also used as information necessary for encoding the next encoding target block. Store. Furthermore, encoded information generated in units of pictures and slices is also stored as necessary.

  The prediction quantization parameter deriving unit 114 derives the prediction quantization parameter of the quantization coding target block using the quantization parameter and coding information of the already coded quantization coding block, and calculates the difference quantization parameter. This is supplied to the generation unit 111. The detailed configuration and operation of the predicted quantization parameter deriving unit 114 will be described later.

  The encoded bit string multiplexing unit 115 multiplexes the first encoded bit string and the second encoded bit string in accordance with a specified syntax rule, and outputs a bit stream.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a moving picture decoding apparatus 200 according to an embodiment corresponding to the moving picture encoding apparatus 100 of FIG. The moving picture decoding apparatus 200 according to the embodiment includes a bit string separation unit 201, a first encoded bit string decoding unit 202, a quantization parameter generation unit 203, an encoded information storage memory 204, a predicted quantization parameter derivation unit 205, and a second code. A decoded bit string decoding unit 206, an inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 207, a decoded image signal superimposing unit 208, a predicted image generating unit 209, and a decoded image memory 210. As in the moving picture encoding apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, the thick solid line arrows connecting the blocks represent picture image signals, and the thin solid line arrows represent the flow of parameter signals for controlling encoding.

  The decoding process of the moving picture decoding apparatus 200 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the decoding process provided in the moving picture encoding apparatus 100 in FIG. 1, and therefore the inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit in FIG. 2. 207, the decoded image signal superimposing unit 208, the predicted image generating unit 209, the decoded image memory 210, and the encoded information storage memory 204 are configured by the inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 105 of the moving image encoding apparatus 100 in FIG. , The decoded image signal superimposing unit 106, the predicted image generating unit 108, the decoded image memory 107, and the encoded information storage memory 113. However, the predicted image generation unit 209 does not include the motion vector detection function and the prediction mode selection function of the predicted image generation unit 108 of the moving image encoding device in FIG.

  The bit stream supplied to the bit string separation unit 201 is separated according to a rule of a prescribed syntax, and the separated encoded bit string is supplied to the first encoded bit string decoding unit 202 and the second encoded bit string decoding unit 206.

  The first encoded bit string decoding unit 202 decodes the supplied encoded bit string, outputs encoding information related to the prediction mode, motion vector, differential quantization parameter, and the like, and converts the differential quantization parameter to the quantization parameter generation unit 203. And the encoded information is stored in the encoded information storage memory 204.

  The quantization parameter generation unit 203 adds the difference quantization parameter supplied from the first encoded bit string decoding unit 202 and the quantization parameter derived by the prediction quantization parameter deriving unit 205 to calculate the quantization parameter. And supplied to the inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 207 and the encoded information storage memory 204.

  The encoded information storage memory 204 stores the quantization parameter of the quantized encoded block that has been decoded. Furthermore, not only the block unit encoded information decoded by the first encoded bit string decoding unit 202 but also the encoded information generated in units of pictures and slices are stored as necessary. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the encoded information such as the decoded prediction mode and motion vector is supplied to the prediction image generation unit 209.

  The prediction quantization parameter deriving unit 205 derives a prediction quantization parameter using the quantization parameter of the already-decoded quantization coding block, and supplies the prediction quantization parameter to the quantization parameter generation unit 203. The predicted quantization parameter derivation unit 205 has a function equivalent to that of the predicted quantization parameter derivation unit 114 of the video encoding device 100, and a detailed configuration and operation will be described later.

  The second encoded bit string decoding unit 206 decodes the supplied encoded bit string to calculate an orthogonally transformed / quantized residual signal, and dequantizes / inverts the orthogonally transformed / quantized residual signal. This is given to the orthogonal transform unit 207.

  The inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 207 generates a quantization signal generated by the quantization parameter generation unit 203 for the orthogonal transform / quantized residual signal decoded by the second encoded bit string decoding unit 206. Using the parameters, inverse orthogonal transform and inverse quantization are performed to obtain a residual signal subjected to inverse orthogonal transform and inverse quantization.

  The decoded image signal superimposing unit 208 superimposes the predicted image signal generated by the predicted image generating unit 209 and the residual signal subjected to inverse orthogonal transform / inverse quantization by the inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 207. The decoded image signal is generated, output, and stored in the decoded image memory 210. When stored in the decoded image memory 210, the decoded image may be stored in the decoded image memory 210 after filtering processing for reducing block distortion or the like due to encoding is performed on the decoded image.

  The predicted image generation unit 209 uses the decoded image memory 210 based on the encoded information such as the prediction mode and motion vector decoded by the second encoded bit string decoding unit 206 and the encoded information from the encoded information storage memory 204. A predicted image signal is generated from the decoded image signal supplied from, and supplied to the decoded image signal superimposing unit 208.

  Next, various parts 120 surrounded by a thick dotted line in the moving picture coding apparatus 100, in particular, a predictive quantization parameter deriving part 114, and various parts 220 surrounded by a thick dotted line in the moving picture decoding apparatus 200, In particular, details of a method for deriving a predictive quantization parameter that is commonly performed by the predictive quantization parameter deriving unit 205 will be described.

  First, the operation of each section of the sections 120 surrounded by the thick dotted line in the moving picture coding apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. The units 120 use a pixel block of a predetermined pixel size unit supplied from the image memory 101 as a quantization coding block, and determine a quantization parameter for quantizing the quantization coding block. The quantization parameter is determined on the encoding side mainly by a code amount control and adaptive quantization algorithm, and is transmitted to the decoding side after performing a quantization parameter prediction process. First, an adaptive quantization method in the activity calculation unit 109 will be described.

  In the activity calculation unit 109, since human visual characteristics are generally sensitive to low-frequency components with few edges, a more complex portion of a pattern that is quantized more finely on a flat part that is visually conspicuous and is relatively inconspicuous. Then, an activity expressing the complexity and smoothness of the image is calculated for each predetermined quantized coding block unit so as to perform coarser quantization. However, since activity calculation is a function only on the encoding device side and is not included on the decoding device side, the activity calculation unit is not necessarily a quantization coding block unit, and encoding is performed in consideration of complexity. You can decide freely on the side.

  As an example of the activity, there is a calculation based on a variance value of pixels in a coding block described in MPEG-2 TestModel 5 (TM5). The variance value is a value indicating the degree of dispersion from the average of the pixels constituting the image in the block. The flatter the image in the block (the smaller the luminance change), the smaller the value, and the more complex the image (the luminance change is). The larger the value, the larger the value, so use it as a block activity. When the pixel value in the block is represented by p (x, y), the activity act of the block is calculated by the following equation.

  Here, BLK is the total number of pixels in the quantization coding block, and p_mean is the average value of the pixels in the block.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above variance, and the absolute value of the difference between the pixels in the quantization coding block and the adjacent pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction may be taken, and the sum total may be taken in the block. Even in this case, it is small when the image is flat, and a large value is obtained in a complicated picture portion having many edges, and can be used as an activity. It is calculated by the following formula.

  The activity act calculated in this way is supplied to the quantization parameter calculation unit 110.

  Next, code amount control will be described. The moving image coding apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment does not particularly include a unit that realizes the code amount control. However, in the code amount control, the quantization parameter of the coding block is determined based on the generated code amount. It is assumed that the function is included in the parameter calculation unit 110.

  The code amount control is intended to match the generated code amount of a predetermined unit such as a picture or a slice to the vicinity of the target code amount, and when it is determined that the generated code amount of the encoded block is larger than the target code amount. Apply relatively coarse quantization to the quantization coding block that encodes the quantization parameter, and if it is determined that the generated code amount of the encoded block is less than the target code amount, encoding is performed thereafter. A relatively fine quantization is applied to the block.

  A specific code amount control algorithm will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, a target code amount (T) is determined for each picture. In general, T is determined so that I picture> P picture> reference B picture> non-reference B picture. For example, when the target bit rate of a moving image is 5 Mbps, there are 1 I picture, 3 P pictures, 11 reference B pictures, and 15 non-reference B pictures per second, Assuming that the target code amount is Ti, Tp, Tbr, Tb, when it is desired to control the target code amount so that the ratio of Ti: Tp: Tbr: Tb = 4: 3: 2: 1, Ti = 400 kbit, Tp = 300 kbit. , Tbr = 200 kbit, Tb = 100 kbit. However, the allocated code amount for each picture type does not affect the essence of the present invention.

となる。ここで、ｊは量子化符号化ブロックの符号化処理順カウント番号である。Ｄ（０）は目標符号量差分の初期値である。 Next, code amount control in a picture will be described. If the number of blocks, which are units for determining the quantization parameter, is N, the generated code amount is B, and the difference bit from the target code amount is D,

It becomes. Here, j is an encoding processing order count number of the quantized encoding block. D (0) is an initial value of the target code amount difference.

The quantization parameter bQP by code amount control is determined as follows.

  Here, r is a proportional coefficient for converting the target code amount difference into a quantization parameter. The proportional coefficient r is determined according to the available quantization parameter.

  The quantization parameter calculation unit 110 changes the quantization parameter of the coding block calculated by the code amount control using the activity act calculated by the activity calculation unit 109 for each quantization coding block. In the following, since the calculation is performed for each quantization coding block, the coding process order count number of the quantization parameter by the code amount control is deleted and represented by bQP.

  The quantization parameter calculation unit 110 records the average activity in the picture encoded immediately before as avg_act, and calculates the normalized activity Nact of the encoded block by the following equation.

  Here, the coefficient “2” in the above equation is a value representing the dynamic range of the quantization parameter, and a normalized activity Nact having a range of 0.5 to 2.0 is calculated. However, the coefficient of the quantization parameter is not limited to 2, and may be other values depending on the characteristics of the image.

  Note that avg_act may be calculated in advance for all blocks in the picture before the encoding process, and the average value may be avg_act. Furthermore, avc_act may be stored in the encoded information storage memory 113, and the quantization parameter calculation unit 110 may acquire avg_act from the encoded information storage memory 113 as necessary.

  The calculated normalization activity Nact is multiplied by the reference quantization parameter bQP as in the following equation to obtain the quantization parameter QP of the coding block.

  The quantization parameter of the coding block calculated in this way is supplied to the coding information storage memory 113 and the differential quantization parameter generation unit 111.

  The encoded information storage memory 113 not only stores the quantization parameter calculated by the quantization parameter calculation unit 110 and the quantization parameter of the past quantization encoded block that has already been encoded, Coding information such as block motion vectors and prediction modes is also stored, and each unit obtains coding information as necessary.

  The predicted quantization parameter derivation unit 114 uses the already encoded quantization parameter from the encoded information storage memory 113 to calculate the predicted quantization parameter for efficiently encoding and transmitting the quantization parameter of the encoded block. To derive.

  In order to efficiently encode and transmit the quantization parameter, rather than encoding the quantization parameter as it is, the predicted quantization parameter predicted from the quantization parameter of the already-encoded quantization coding block is used. It is more efficient to take the difference (difference quantization parameter) and encode and transmit the difference quantization parameter. From the viewpoint of code amount control, if the quantization parameter of the previous encoded block in the encoding processing order is the predicted quantization parameter, the value of the differential quantization parameter to be transmitted becomes small and the code amount becomes small. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of adaptive quantization, the quantization coding block and the quantization coding block adjacent to the quantization coding block often have a similar pattern, so that the quantization coding block adjacent to the quantization coding block The activity has a value close to the activity of the coding block. If the quantization parameter of the adjacent quantization coding block is the prediction quantization parameter, the value of the differential quantization parameter to be transmitted is small, and the code amount is small. Therefore, in AVC, as shown in FIG. 4, the unit for transmitting the quantization parameter is fixed in a macro block (16 × 16 pixel group), and the left adjacent to the coded block immediately before the coded block in the raster scan order. A method is adopted in which the quantization parameter of the block adjacent to the block is used as the prediction quantization parameter, the difference between the quantization parameter of the coding block and the prediction quantization parameter is taken, and the difference quantization parameter is encoded and transmitted. That is, AVC is optimized for prediction of quantization parameters assuming code amount control. However, since AVC does not perform hierarchical tree coding, which will be described later, since the immediately preceding block is the left block except for the left end of the image, the quantization parameter of the adjacent block is used as the prediction quantization parameter. It can be said that it is almost optimized for prediction assuming quantization. Therefore, as in AVC, when the unit for transmitting the quantization parameter is fixed and the hierarchical tree coding is not performed, the prediction of the quantization parameter is optimal for the immediately preceding coded block. I can say that.

  However, when hierarchical tree coding is performed, if the quantization parameter of the immediately preceding block is used as a predictive quantization parameter as in AVC, the quantization parameter is optimized, but adaptive quantization is used to quantize the quantization parameter. Is not an optimal prediction value, and there is a problem that the code amount of the differential quantization parameter increases.

  Here, hierarchical tree coding will be described. In the hierarchical tree coding referred to here, a depth representing a coding unit is determined for each tree block (here, 64 × 64 blocks), and quantization coding is performed for each coding block using the determined depth. As a result, the optimum depth depending on the definition of the image can be determined and quantization coding can be performed, and the coding efficiency is greatly improved.

  FIG. 5 shows the encoding processing order of the hierarchical tree encoding structure. As shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 5, the inside of the screen is equally divided in units of square rectangles having a predetermined same size. This unit is called a tree block, and is a basic unit of address management for specifying an encoding / decoding block in an image. The tree block can be divided into four hierarchical blocks as necessary to make the block smaller in size in order to optimize the encoding process according to the texture in the image. Such a hierarchical block structure divided into small blocks is called a tree block structure, and this divided block is called a coding block (CU: Coding Unit) for encoding and decoding. The basic unit of processing. The lower diagram of FIG. 5 shows an example in which three CUs except the lower left are further divided into four CUs obtained by dividing the tree block into four. In this embodiment, the CU and the quantized coding block are set as the same unit, that is, the quantization parameter is set in CU unit. The tree block is also the maximum size coding block. However, the unit of the quantization coding block is not the same as that of the CU, and an independent predetermined unit can be set. In other words, the quantization coding block can be fixed to a 16 × 16 block unit without depending on the size of the CU. An example in which the unit of the quantized coding block is not the same as that of the CU will be described later.

  In such hierarchical tree coding, since the coding order is different from the raster scan order (left to right) as in AVC in FIG. 4, the quantization parameter is the same in the immediately preceding coded block and the left adjacent block. There are many cases where this is not possible. For example, as an example of hierarchical tree coding, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper left quantization coding block (the rectangle in the shaded area in FIG. 6) in the tree block to be coded is adjacent to the left. Among the blocks divided in the tree block, the quantization parameter of the lower right encoded block (rectangle in gray in FIG. 6) encoded last is used for prediction. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower left quantization coding block (the shaded rectangle in FIG. 7) in the tree block to be coded is divided in the same tree block and immediately before The quantization parameter of the quantized block (gray rectangle in FIG. 7) is used for prediction. Therefore, even if the prediction optimized for the code amount control can be performed only by predicting the quantization parameter from the previous coded block, adaptive quantization is used to separate the distance between the blocks by division. Therefore, the code amount of the differential quantization parameter increases, and the coding efficiency is reduced.

  Also, assuming that the quantization parameter of the quantization coding block on the left adjacent to the left is the prediction quantization parameter, the prediction quantization parameter of the quantization coding block at the upper left in the tree block is the previous one as shown in FIG. The more quantization coding blocks of the tree block are divided, the more the quantization parameters are separated in the coding order. Therefore, in terms of code amount control in which quantization parameter prediction from a quantization coding block that is close in coding order is efficient, coding efficiency decreases.

  That is, when predicting a quantization parameter from a quantization coding block that is spatially close, a quantization parameter calculated at a past time point farther than the quantization coding block may be used. As shown in the figure, the processing order i of the quantization coding blocks spatially adjacent to the processing order j of the quantization coding block is the code amount even if spatially adjacent as the quantization coding block. From the viewpoint of control, as shown in FIG. 9, since i << j in the encoding processing order, it cannot be said that the quantization parameters of adjacent quantization coding blocks are highly correlated. In addition, when performing quantization parameter prediction only from quantization coding blocks that are close in spatial order among the quantization coding blocks that are spatially close, the spatially adjacent quantization coding blocks are tree blocks. If it is outside the tree block, it is determined that the coding processing block is far from the coding processing order, and only the quantization parameter in the tree block is used for prediction. Derivation of quantization parameters that are inappropriate in terms of quantity control can be avoided. However, it is necessary to determine whether the quantization coding block spatially adjacent is outside the tree block in the unit for predicting the quantization parameter, or even within the tree block. In some cases, the processing is not necessarily optimal from the viewpoint of code amount control, for example, there is a quantized coding block whose processing order is not close.

  Therefore, the predictive quantization parameter deriving unit 114 according to the embodiment of the present invention derives the predictive quantization parameter using the quantization parameters of the immediately preceding plurality of quantized coding blocks, so that it is possible to control the amount of code. Enables prediction of quantization parameters from spatially adjacent quantized coding blocks with high prediction efficiency from the viewpoint of adaptive quantization, while using quantization parameters close in encoding order with high prediction efficiency Is realized. In addition, prediction of the quantization parameter with a small amount of memory is realized by minimizing the storage of the quantization parameter for obtaining the quantization parameter that is spatially close. Details of the predicted quantization parameter deriving unit 114 will be described later.

  The differential quantization parameter generation unit 111 performs the prediction quantization parameter derived by the prediction quantization parameter deriving unit 114 on the quantization parameter of the quantization coding block calculated by the quantization parameter calculation unit 110, and Subtraction is performed to calculate a difference quantization parameter. Predictive quantization parameters are derived from decoded quantized blocks in the same way as at the time of encoding at the time of decoding, so there is no contradiction between encoding and decoding by making the differential encoding parameter to be encoded. Thus, it is possible to reduce the code amount of the quantization parameter. The calculated difference quantization parameter is supplied to the first encoded bit string generation unit 112.

  The first encoded bit string generation unit 112 generates a first encoded bit string by entropy encoding the differential quantization parameter calculated by the differential quantization parameter generation unit 111 according to a specified syntax rule. FIG. 10 shows an example of a coding conversion table used for entropy coding of the differential quantization parameter. First, the first bit indicates that the differential quantization parameter that is most likely to appear is 0, then the second bit is a positive / negative flag, and the third bit is whether the absolute value of the differential quantization parameter is 1 or not. In the fourth bit, whether or not the absolute value of the differential quantization parameter is 2 continues. In such encoding of the differential quantization parameter, the smaller the absolute value of the differential quantization parameter is, the shorter the code length is given, and the absolute value of the differential quantization parameter is known by the bit length. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generated code amount of the differential quantization parameter with a non-complex configuration. FIG. 10 is an encoding table in which the bit length is increased in proportion to the absolute value of the differential quantization parameter. Therefore, the generated code amount becomes very small when a small differential quantization parameter is transmitted, and a large differential quantization parameter is obtained. During transmission, the amount of generated codes tends to be relatively large. When the differential quantization parameter is encoded using the encoding table as shown in FIG. 10, not only the probability that the differential quantization parameter becomes 0 but also the differential quantization parameter having a large value is not generated as much as possible. It is important to derive a predictive quantization parameter. The first encoded bit string generation unit 112 extracts a code bit string corresponding to the differential quantization parameter from the table of FIG. 10 and supplies the code bit string to the encoded bit string multiplexing unit 115.

  The operation of each unit of the units 220 surrounded by the thick dotted line in the video decoding device 200 corresponding to the video encoding device 100 of the above-described embodiment will be described.

  In the units 220, the differential quantization parameter first decoded by the first encoded bit string decoding unit 202 is supplied to the quantization parameter generation unit 203. Also, encoded information other than the differential quantization parameter is stored in the encoded information storage memory 204 as necessary.

  The quantization parameter generation unit 203 adds the differential quantization parameter supplied from the first encoded bit string decoding unit 202 and the quantization parameter derived by the prediction quantization parameter deriving unit 205 to obtain the quantization of the decoded block. The quantization parameter is calculated and supplied to the inverse quantization / inverse orthogonal transform unit 207 and the encoded information storage memory 204.

  The encoded information storage memory 204 stores the quantization parameter of the quantized encoded block that has been decoded. Furthermore, not only the block unit encoded information decoded by the first encoded bit string decoding unit 202 but also the encoded information generated in units of pictures and slices are stored as necessary.

  The predicted quantization parameter deriving unit 205 derives a predicted quantization parameter using the quantization parameter of the already decoded block, and supplies the predicted quantization parameter to the quantization parameter generating unit 203. The quantization parameter calculated by the quantization parameter generation unit 203 is stored in the encoding information storage memory 204, and is used when deriving the predicted quantization parameter of the quantization coding block to be decoded later. The decoded quantization parameter obtained in this way is the same as the quantization parameter acquired from the encoded information storage memory 113 by the predictive quantization parameter deriving unit 114 of the video encoding device 100. Since the predictive quantization parameter deriving unit 205 has the same function as the predictive quantization parameter deriving unit 114 of the video encoding device 100, the quantization parameter supplied from the encoded information storage memory 204 is the same. For example, the same prediction quantization parameter as that at the time of encoding is derived.

  Thus, the predicted quantization parameter derived on the encoding side is derived on the decoding side without any contradiction.

  Hereinafter, the details of the method for deriving the predicted quantization parameter that is commonly performed by the predicted quantization parameter deriving units 114 and 205 will be described.

  The detailed operation of the predicted quantization parameter deriving unit 114 will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, encoding is performed in the order of raster scan from the upper left to the lower right of the screen in units of tree blocks. If the encoding target tree block is represented by a hatched rectangle in FIG. 11, the encoded tree block is represented by a gray portion in FIG. Since hierarchical tree coding is performed in the tree block according to the coding conditions, the coding block is divided into a size equal to or smaller than the tree block. Although it is adjacent to the encoded block inside the tree block, it is far away in the encoding processing order. Therefore, since the quantization parameter calculated by the code amount control is calculated in the order of encoding processing, the quantization parameter of the encoding block is close to the quantization parameter of the encoded block in the upper tree block. I can't say. Therefore, the prediction quantization parameter is encoded using the quantization parameters of the immediately preceding plurality of quantization coding blocks.

  12 to 15 are diagrams illustrating prediction sources of the quantized coded blocks in the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right inside the tree block divided by the hierarchical tree coding, respectively.

  In the quantization coding block at the upper left inside the tree block in FIG. 12, the quantization parameter of the previous quantization coding block in the coding order from the two quantization codings in the previous tree block. prevQP1 and the quantization parameter prevQP2 of the quantization coding block two before in the coding order are derived.

  In the right quantization coding block in the tree block of FIG. 13, the coding order is one from the quantization coding in the previous tree block, and from the left quantization coding block in the same tree block. Thus, the quantization parameter prevQP1 of the previous quantization coding block and the quantization parameter prevQP2 of the second quantization coding block in the coding order are derived.

  In the lower left quantization coding block in the tree block of FIG. 14, the previous quantization code in the coding order from the upper quantization coding block and the upper right quantization coding block in the same tree block, respectively. The quantization parameter prevQP1 of the quantization block and the quantization parameter prevQP2 of the quantization coding block two before in the coding order are derived.

  In the lower right quantization coding block in the tree block of FIG. 15, the quantization quantization one previous in the coding order from the left quantization coding block and the upper quantization coding block in the same tree block, respectively. The quantization parameter prevQP1 of the coding block and the quantization parameter prevQP2 of the quantization coding block two before in the coding order are derived.

  The predicted quantization parameter is determined by the average value of prevQP1 and prevQP2.

  In the case of the examples of FIGS. 12 and 13, the quantized coding blocks that are spatially separated serve as the prediction source of the quantization parameter, but since the average value of the prediction quantization parameter is taken, prevQP1 is unexpectedly reliable. Even when the quantization parameter becomes low, the error is averaged, and the prediction efficiency of the quantization parameter is improved. Even if spatially separated quantized coding blocks are used, the average value of a plurality of predictive quantization parameters is used when the difference quantization parameter coding table of FIG. 10 is used. Since it is important to derive a predictive quantization parameter that generates as few parameters as possible, the effect of error averaging becomes particularly significant.

  In the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, since the quantized coding blocks that are spatially close to each other serve as a quantization parameter prediction source, the improvement in quantization parameter prediction efficiency is particularly remarkable. In other words, it is possible to predict quantization parameters from quantization coding blocks that are close in coding order and spatially, and can predict quantization parameters suitable for both code amount control and adaptive quantization. is there.

  In this way, by deriving the prediction quantization parameter using the quantization parameters of the immediately preceding plurality of quantization coding blocks, the quantization parameter close in the coding order with high prediction efficiency in terms of code amount control can be obtained. While enabling the prediction of quantization parameters from spatially adjacent quantization coding blocks with high prediction efficiency in terms of adaptive quantization, the code amount of differential quantization parameters is suppressed, Efficiency.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart for deriving the predicted quantization parameter. First, the quantization parameter prevQP of the immediately preceding quantization coding block in the coding / decoding order is acquired (S1000). Next, prevQP1 in which the quantization parameter value of the previous quantization coding block is stored is substituted into prevQP2 in which the quantization parameter value of the previous quantization coding block is stored (S1001). . Next, the quantization parameter prevQP of the previous quantization coding block acquired in S100 is substituted into prevQP1 that stores the value of the quantization parameter of the previous quantization coding block (S1002). Finally, the average value of prevQP1 and prevQP2 is calculated and used as the predicted quantization parameter (S1003).

  Note that at the head of the picture or slice, prevQP1 and prevQP2 are initialized with the slice QP described in the slice header or the like.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of predictive quantization parameter calculation processing. In the actual quantization parameter prediction process, when the quantization coding block is switched, the value of prevQP1 is copied to the buffer of prevQP2, and the quantization parameter of the previous quantization coding block is loaded to the buffer storing prevQP1. To do. The average value calculation is always applied to the prevQP1 buffer and the prevQP2 buffer. Thereby, the prediction of the quantization parameter with a small amount of memory can be realized by suppressing the storage of the quantization parameter to the minimum. In addition, without calculating the address of spatially adjacent quantized coding blocks and determining whether or not the spatially adjacent quantized coded blocks are in a tree block, the coding order and decoding order Since the quantization parameter can be predicted from the quantization coding blocks spatially close by using the immediately preceding quantization parameter group, the processing amount is small and suitable for both code amount control and adaptive quantization. Quantization parameters can be predicted.

  Of course, the average value may be used as the quantization parameter by using the quantization parameter prevQP3 of the quantization coding block three before in the coding order and the quantization parameter prevQP4 of the quantization coding block four before. When the quantization parameter of the prediction source is increased, it is possible to predict a quantization parameter suitable for adaptive quantization.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment, the weighted average value is not the average value of the quantization parameter of the quantization coding block coded one time ago and the quantization parameter of the quantization coding block coded two times before. The only difference is from the first embodiment. PrevQP1 and prevQP2 have higher reliability in terms of code amount control, and prevQP1 has higher reliability in terms of adaptive quantization. Therefore, prevQP1 has a higher weighting coefficient.

  However, although the weighting coefficient is 3: 1, other ratios may be used. Thereby, the reliability of a prediction quantization parameter further improves, the code amount of a difference quantization parameter is suppressed, and encoding efficiency improves.

  According to the moving picture encoding apparatus of the present embodiment, the optimal predictive quantization parameter is determined by using the quantization parameter of the encoded block as the quantization parameter encoded for each block to be encoded. By predicting and deriving and encoding by taking the difference between the quantization parameter and the predicted quantization parameter, the coding amount of the quantization parameter can be reduced and the encoding efficiency can be improved.

  In the above description, the quantization parameter is predicted using the quantization coding block and the coding block as the same unit, but the quantization parameter is encoded and transmitted. The quantization parameter may be predicted as a unit different from the block.

For example, the unit of the quantization coding block may be fixed, and the quantization coding block size n may be encoded and transmitted in the bitstream. The size is represented by a value obtained by multiplying the length of the side of the block of the tree block by 1/2 ⁿ times (n is an integer of 0 or more). That is, a value obtained by shifting the length of the side of the block of the tree block to the right by n bits becomes the length of the side of the quantization coding block. Since this value determines the block size in the same manner as the tree block structure, it has a high affinity with the tree block. Further, since the tree block is divided into equal sizes, management and readout of the quantization parameters stored in the encoded information storage memories 113 and 204 can be simplified.

  FIG. 18 shows an example in which the inside of a tree block is divided by a tree block structure. The block size of the tree block is 64 × 64, the inside of the tree block is hierarchically divided into four, 32 × 32 blocks (dotted rectangle in FIG. 18) in the first division, and 16 × 16 blocks in the second division ( A hatched rectangle in FIG. 18) is divided into encoded blocks of 8 × 8 blocks (white rectangles in FIG. 18) in the third division. Here, if the quantization coding block is a 16 × 16 rectangular block, the quantization coding block is represented by a thick dotted line in FIG. 18, and the quantization parameter is predicted for each quantization coding block.

  When the coding block to be coded is larger than the quantization coding block block size (32 × 32 blocks), for example, the inside of the coding block represented by the dotted rectangle in FIG. 18 is four quantization coding blocks. It is divided into. In this case, although it is divided into four by the quantization coding block, since the quantization parameter required for this coding block is one, when the size of the coding block is larger than the size of the quantization coding block, Then, the differential quantization parameter after the prediction of the quantization parameter of the coding block is coded and transmitted, and the coded information storage memories 113 and 204 corresponding to each of the quantization coding blocks divided into four are stored in the memory areas. Store the same quantization parameter. Although the quantization parameter overlaps in the memory, it becomes easy to access the quantization parameter of the surrounding encoded block in the prediction of the quantization parameter.

  When the coding block to be coded is the same as the block size of the quantization coding block (16 × 16 blocks), the same as the case of the prediction of the quantization parameter for each coding block described above.

  When the coding block to be coded is smaller than the block size of the quantization coding block (8 × 8 blocks), for example, it is a coding block represented by a white rectangle in FIG. Since four coding blocks are accommodated in the coding block, the coding blocks in the quantization coding block do not have quantization parameters individually, but have one quantization parameter in the quantization coding block, It is assumed that each encoded block is encoded with the quantization parameter.

Note that the block size of the quantized coding block may be described directly in the header information of the bitstream, or whether the block size is 1/2 ⁿ times the tree block size (n is an integer of 0 or more). The bit shift amount to be expressed may be described. In addition, the quantization group size may be determined implicitly by encoding and decoding without being described in the bitstream.

  The moving image encoded stream output from the moving image encoding apparatus of the embodiment described above has a specific data format so that it can be decoded according to the encoding method used in the embodiment. Therefore, the moving picture decoding apparatus corresponding to the moving picture encoding apparatus can decode the encoded stream of this specific data format.

  When a wired or wireless network is used to exchange an encoded stream between a moving image encoding device and a moving image decoding device, the encoded stream is converted into a data format suitable for the transmission form of the communication path. It may be transmitted. In that case, a video transmission apparatus that converts the encoded stream output from the video encoding apparatus into encoded data in a data format suitable for the transmission form of the communication channel and transmits the encoded data to the network, and receives the encoded data from the network Then, a moving image receiving apparatus that restores the encoded stream and supplies the encoded stream to the moving image decoding apparatus is provided.

  The moving image transmitting apparatus is a memory that buffers the encoded stream output from the moving image encoding apparatus, a packet processing unit that packetizes the encoded stream, and transmission that transmits the packetized encoded data via the network. Part. The moving image receiving apparatus generates a coded stream by packetizing the received data, a receiving unit that receives the packetized coded data via a network, a memory that buffers the received coded data, and packet processing. And a packet processing unit provided to the video decoding device.

  The above processing relating to encoding and decoding can be realized as a transmission, storage, and reception device using hardware, and is stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, or the like. It can also be realized by firmware or software such as a computer. The firmware program and software program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, provided from a server through a wired or wireless network, or provided as a data broadcast of terrestrial or satellite digital broadcasting Is also possible.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. .

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Moving image encoding apparatus, 101 Image memory, 102 Residual signal generation part, 103 Orthogonal transformation / quantization part, 104 2nd encoding bit stream production | generation part, 105 Dequantization / inverse orthogonal transformation part, 106 Decoded image signal Superimposition unit, 107 decoded image memory, 108 predicted image generation unit, 109 activity calculation unit, 110 quantization parameter calculation unit, 111 differential quantization parameter generation unit, 112 first encoded bit string generation unit, 113 encoded information storage memory 114 Predictive quantization parameter deriving unit, 115 Encoded bit stream multiplexing unit, 200 Moving picture decoding device, 201 Bit sequence separating unit, 202 First encoded bit sequence decoding unit, 203 Quantization parameter generating unit, 204 Encoding information storage memory 205 Prediction quantization parameter deriving unit 206 second coded bit stream decoding unit, 207 inverse quantization and inverse orthogonal transform unit, 208 decoded image signal superimposing unit, 209 predicted image generation unit, 210 decoded image memory.

Claims (3)

An image decoding apparatus that decodes a bitstream in which a differential quantization parameter is encoded in units of a quantization decoding block that is a unit for managing quantization parameters obtained by dividing the image,
A decoding unit that decodes the bitstream in units of the quantized decoding block and extracts a differential quantization parameter of a quantization decoding block to be decoded;
A predictive quantization parameter derivation unit for deriving a predictive quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded;
A quantization parameter deriving unit for deriving a quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded by adding the difference quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded and the prediction quantization parameter;
The predictive quantization parameter derivation unit derives the predictive quantization parameter using the quantization parameters of the two preceding quantized decoding blocks in the decoding order with respect to the quantization decoding block to be decoded,
An average value of quantization parameters of the two quantized decoding blocks is set as the predicted quantization parameter.
An image decoding apparatus characterized by that. An image decoding method for decoding a bitstream in which a differential quantization parameter is encoded in units of a quantization decoding block, which is a quantization parameter management unit obtained by dividing the image,
A decoding step of decoding the bit stream in units of the quantized decoding block and extracting a differential quantization parameter of a quantization decoding block to be decoded;
A predictive quantization parameter derivation step for deriving a predictive quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded;
A quantization parameter deriving step for deriving a quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded by adding the difference quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded and the prediction quantization parameter;
The predictive quantization parameter derivation step derives the predictive quantization parameter using the quantization parameters of the two preceding quantized decoding blocks in the decoding order with respect to the quantization decoding block to be decoded,
An average value of quantization parameters of the two quantized decoding blocks is set as the predicted quantization parameter.
An image decoding method characterized by the above. An image decoding program for decoding a bitstream in which a differential quantization parameter is encoded in units of a quantization decoding block, which is a quantization parameter management unit obtained by dividing the image,
A decoding step of decoding the bit stream in units of the quantized decoding block and extracting a differential quantization parameter of a quantization decoding block to be decoded;
A predictive quantization parameter derivation step for deriving a predictive quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded;
Causing the computer to execute a quantization parameter deriving step of deriving a quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded by adding the differential quantization parameter of the quantization decoding block to be decoded and the prediction quantization parameter;
The predictive quantization parameter derivation step derives the predictive quantization parameter using the quantization parameters of the two preceding quantized decoding blocks in the decoding order with respect to the quantization decoding block to be decoded,
An average value of quantization parameters of the two quantized decoding blocks is set as the predicted quantization parameter.
An image decoding program characterized by the above.

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