WO2013108613A1

WO2013108613A1 - Moving picture encoding method, moving picture decoding method, moving picture encoding device, moving picture decoding device and moving picture encoding/decoding device

Info

Publication number: WO2013108613A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/000126
Authority: WO
Inventors: 敏康杉尾; 西　孝啓; 陽司柴原; 京子谷川; 寿郎笹井; 徹松延; 健吾寺田
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2012-01-17
Filing date: 2013-01-15
Publication date: 2013-07-25

Abstract

This moving picture encoding method includes: a first prediction motion vector calculation step (S111a) in which each first prediction motion vector candidate is calculated from at least one adjoining block; a second prediction motion vector calculation step (S114b, S114c) in which second prediction motion vector candidates having a zero-value motion vector, or third prediction motion vector candidates having a disparity vector with respect to a reference picture which belongs to a different view from that of a picture to be encoded, are calculated; a prediction motion vector determination step (S103) in which prediction motion vectors to be used for encoding motion vectors of a block to be encoded are determined from among the first prediction motion vector candidates and the second prediction motion vector candidates or from among the first prediction motion vector candidates and the third prediction motion vector candidates; and an index encoding step (S104) in which indices for identifying the prediction motion vectors are attached to a bitstream.

Description

Moving picture encoding method, moving picture decoding method, moving picture encoding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, and moving picture encoding / decoding apparatus

The present invention relates to a moving image encoding method, a moving image decoding method, and the like.

In the moving image encoding process, in general, the amount of information is compressed using redundancy in the spatial direction and temporal direction of a moving image. In general, as a method of using redundancy in the spatial direction, conversion to the frequency domain is used, and as a method of using redundancy in the temporal direction, inter-picture prediction (hereinafter referred to as inter prediction) encoding is used. Processing is used. In the inter prediction encoding process, when a certain picture is encoded, an encoded picture that is ahead or behind in the display time order with respect to the encoding target picture is used as a reference picture. Then, by detecting the motion of the encoding target picture relative to the reference picture, a motion vector is derived, and the difference between the predicted image data obtained by performing motion compensation based on the motion vector and the image data of the encoding target picture is obtained. Thus, redundancy in the time direction is removed. Here, in motion detection, a difference value between a coding target block in a coded picture and a block in a reference picture is calculated, and a block in the reference picture having the smallest difference value is set as a reference block. Then, a motion vector is detected using the encoding target block and the reference block. H. A video encoding method called H.264 has already been standardized (see Non-Patent Document 1).

However, in recent years, broadcasting and content distribution using high-definition images (4K × 2K) have been studied, and it is necessary to further improve the encoding efficiency as compared with the already standardized moving image encoding method.

Therefore, the present invention provides a moving picture coding method and a moving picture decoding method that improve coding efficiency.

The moving image encoding method according to an aspect of the present invention encodes a motion vector of the encoding target block from at least one adjacent block which is a block spatially or temporally adjacent to the encoding target block. A motion picture encoding method for calculating a predicted motion vector for encoding and encoding the target block for encoding, wherein the first predicted motion for calculating a first predicted motion vector candidate from the at least one adjacent block A second step of calculating a second predicted motion vector candidate having a motion vector of a value 0 or a third predicted motion vector candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the encoding target picture; A predicted motion vector calculating step; the first predicted motion vector candidate; and the second predicted motion vector. A prediction motion vector determining step for determining the prediction motion vector used for encoding the motion vector of the encoding target block from among the candidates or the third prediction motion vector candidate; and specifying the prediction motion vector And an index encoding step for attaching an index to the bitstream.

This comprehensive or specific aspect may be realized by a recording medium such as a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable CD-ROM. The system, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and You may implement | achieve with arbitrary combinations of a recording medium.

According to the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method of one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve coding efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a reference picture list in a B picture. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an inter prediction coding method in the temporal motion vector predictor mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a motion vector of an adjacent block used in the predicted motion vector designation mode. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 0. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of assignment of a bit string to a motion vector predictor index. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an encoding process flow when the motion vector predictor designation mode is used. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a calculation example of a predicted motion vector. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a calculation example of a predicted motion vector. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a decoding process when the predicted motion vector designation mode is used. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a syntax for attaching a motion vector predictor index to a bitstream. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a video encoding device using the video encoding method according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the video encoding apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 0 in the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a process of calculating a motion vector predictor candidate and a motion vector predictor candidate list size according to the first embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference relationship in the first embodiment. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for determining whether or not the prediction block candidate [N] in the first embodiment is a predictable candidate. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing detailed processing in step S114b of FIG. 15 in the first embodiment. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S114c of FIG. 15 in the first embodiment. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing detailed processing in step S103 of FIG. 12 in the first embodiment. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing detailed processing in step S105 of FIG. 12 in the first embodiment. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a disparity vector for each view in the first embodiment. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a disparity vector for each view in the first embodiment. FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a video decoding device using the video decoding method according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the video decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax when adding a disparity vector to a slice header in the second embodiment. FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a moving picture encoding apparatus according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing processing operations of the video encoding apparatus according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of the motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 0 in the third embodiment. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of the motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 1 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a process of calculating a motion vector predictor candidate and a motion vector predictor candidate list size according to the third embodiment. FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining whether or not a prediction block candidate [N] is a predictable candidate and updating the number of predictable candidates in the third embodiment. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing processing for adding a new candidate in the third embodiment. FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 4. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing processing operations of the video decoding apparatus according to Embodiment 4. FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining whether or not a prediction block candidate [N] is predictable and calculating the number of predictable candidates in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating calculation processing of a motion vector predictor candidate according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax for attaching a motion vector predictor index to a bitstream according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax when the motion vector predictor candidate list size is fixed to the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidate numbers in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 40 is an overall configuration diagram of a content supply system that implements a content distribution service. FIG. 41 is an overall configuration diagram of a digital broadcasting system. FIG. 42 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a television. FIG. 43 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information reproducing / recording unit that reads and writes information from and on a recording medium that is an optical disk. FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a structure example of a recording medium that is an optical disk. FIG. 45A illustrates an example of a mobile phone. FIG. 45B is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a mobile phone. FIG. 46 shows a structure of multiplexed data. FIG. 47 is a diagram schematically showing how each stream is multiplexed in the multiplexed data. FIG. 48 is a diagram showing in more detail how the video stream is stored in the PES packet sequence. FIG. 49 is a diagram showing the structure of TS packets and source packets in multiplexed data. FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the PMT. FIG. 51 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of multiplexed data information. FIG. 52 shows the internal structure of stream attribute information. FIG. 53 is a diagram showing steps for identifying video data. FIG. 54 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an integrated circuit that implements the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method according to each embodiment. FIG. 55 is a diagram showing a configuration for switching the drive frequency. FIG. 56 is a diagram showing steps for identifying video data and switching between driving frequencies. FIG. 57 is a diagram showing an example of a look-up table in which video data standards are associated with drive frequencies. FIG. 58A is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for sharing a module of a signal processing unit. FIG. 58B is a diagram illustrating another example of a configuration for sharing a module of a signal processing unit.

(Knowledge that became the basis of the present invention)
H. already standardized. In a moving picture encoding method called H.264, three types of picture types, i.e., an I picture, a P picture, and a B picture, are used to compress the amount of information. An I picture is a picture that does not perform inter prediction encoding processing, that is, performs intra prediction (hereinafter referred to as intra prediction) encoding processing. A P picture is a picture that is subjected to inter prediction encoding with reference to one already encoded picture in front of or behind the current picture in display time order. The B picture is a picture that performs inter prediction encoding with reference to two already encoded pictures that are in front of or behind the encoding target picture in display time order.

In inter prediction encoding, a reference picture list for specifying a reference picture is generated. The reference picture list is a list in which a reference picture index is assigned to an encoded reference picture that is referred to in inter prediction. For example, since B picture can be encoded with reference to two pictures, two reference picture lists (L0, L1) are held.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a reference picture list in a B picture. A reference picture list 0 (L0) in FIG. 1 is an example of a reference picture list in a prediction direction 0 in bi-directional prediction. The reference picture index 0 has a value 0 of the reference picture 0 and the reference picture index 0 has a reference picture index 0 value. Reference picture 1 in display order 1 is assigned to 1, and reference picture 2 in display order 0 is assigned to value 2 of reference picture index 0. That is, the reference picture index is assigned to the encoding target picture in the order of time in display order. On the other hand, the reference picture list 1 (L1) is an example of the reference picture list in the prediction direction 1 in the bi-directional prediction. The reference picture index 1 has a value 0 of the reference picture 1 and the reference picture index 1 has a value 1 of the reference picture index 1. Reference picture 0 in display order 2 and reference picture 2 in display order 0 are assigned to value 2 of reference picture index 2. As described above, it is possible to assign different reference picture indexes for each reference picture for each prediction direction (

reference pictures

0 and 1 in FIG. 1), or to assign the same reference picture index (see FIG. 1). Picture 2).

H. In the moving picture coding method called H.264, as the inter prediction coding mode of each coding target block in a B picture, a difference value between predicted image data and the coding target block, and prediction image data generation are used. There is a motion vector detection mode that encodes a motion vector. In the motion vector detection mode, bi-directional prediction for generating a prediction image with reference to two already-encoded pictures in front of or behind the current picture to be encoded as a prediction direction, and already in front or rear of the encoding One-way prediction for generating a prediction image with reference to one completed picture can be selected.

H. In a moving picture coding scheme called H.264, when a motion vector is derived in coding a B picture, a coding mode called a temporal prediction motion vector mode can be selected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an inter prediction encoding method in the temporal prediction motion vector mode. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing motion vectors in the temporal prediction motion vector mode, and shows a case where the block a of the picture B2 is encoded in the temporal prediction motion vector mode. In this case, the motion vector vb used when the block b (hereinafter referred to as a co-located block) at the same position as the block a in the picture P3 which is the reference picture behind the picture B2 is encoded. The motion vector vb is a motion vector used when the block b is encoded, and refers to the picture P1. The block a is encoded by obtaining a reference block from a picture P1 that is a forward reference picture and a picture P3 that is a backward reference picture using a motion vector parallel to the motion vector vb, and performing bi-directional prediction. The That is, the motion vector used when coding the block a is the motion vector va1 for the picture P1 and the motion vector va2 for the picture P3.

Also, a predictive motion vector designation mode is being studied as a method for coding the motion vector of each coding target block in a B picture or a P picture. In the prediction motion vector designation mode, a prediction motion vector candidate is generated from each adjacent block of the encoding target block, a prediction motion vector is selected, and the motion vector of the encoding target block is encoded. At this time, by attaching the index of the selected motion vector predictor to the bit stream, the same motion vector predictor can be selected at the time of decoding.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a motion vector of an adjacent block used in the predicted motion vector designation mode. In FIG. 3, the encoded block adjacent to the left of the encoding target block is the adjacent block A, the encoded block adjacent above the encoding target block is the adjacent block B, and adjacent to the upper right of the encoding target block. The encoded block is the adjacent block C, and the encoded block adjacent to the lower left of the encoding target block is the adjacent block D.

In FIG. 3, the encoding target block has a motion vector MvL0 in the prediction direction 0 and a reference picture index in the prediction direction 1 with respect to the reference picture indicated by the reference picture index RefL0 in the prediction direction 0 as a result of motion detection or the like. It is a block encoded with bi-prediction having a motion vector MvL1 in the prediction direction 1 with respect to the reference picture of RefL1. Here, MvL0 is a motion vector that refers to the reference picture specified by reference picture list 0 (L0), and MvL1 is a motion vector that refers to the reference picture specified by reference picture list 1 (L1). . Adjacent block A is a block encoded by unidirectional prediction in prediction direction 0, and has a motion vector MvL0_A in prediction direction 0 with respect to the reference picture indicated by reference picture index RefL0_A in prediction direction 0. Further, the adjacent block B is a block encoded by unidirectional prediction in the prediction direction 1, and has a motion vector MvL1_B in the prediction direction 1 with respect to the reference picture indicated by the reference picture index RefL1_B in the prediction direction 1. Adjacent block C is a block encoded by intra prediction. Also, the adjacent block D is a block encoded by unidirectional prediction in the prediction direction 0, and has a motion vector MvL0_D in the prediction direction 0 with respect to the reference picture indicated by the reference picture index RefL0_D in the prediction direction 0.

In the case as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the motion vector of the adjacent blocks A, B, C, and D and the temporal motion vector predictor mode obtained using the co-located block are used as the motion vector predictor of the encoding target block. A prediction motion vector that can most efficiently encode the motion vector of the encoding target block is selected from prediction motion vector candidates generated from the motion vector. Then, a motion vector predictor index representing the selected motion vector predictor is attached to the bitstream. For example, when the motion vector MvL0 in the prediction direction 0 of the encoding target block is encoded, the prediction motion vector candidate generated from the motion vector MvL0_A in the prediction direction 0 of the adjacent block A is selected as the prediction motion vector. As shown in FIG. 4, only the motion vector predictor index value 0 indicating that the motion vector predictor candidate generated from the adjacent block A is used is attached to the bitstream, so that the motion vector in the prediction direction 0 of the current block is encoded. The information amount of MvL0 can be reduced.

Here, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 0. FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, in the predicted motion vector designation mode, the value matches a candidate for which a predicted motion vector cannot be generated (hereinafter referred to as an unpredictable candidate) and other predicted motion vector candidates. Such candidates (hereinafter referred to as duplication candidates) are deleted from the motion vector predictor candidate list, and the number of motion vector predictor candidates is reduced, thereby reducing the amount of code assigned to the motion vector predictor index.

Note that generation of a motion vector predictor is impossible indicates that an adjacent block is intra prediction, is outside a slice or picture boundary, or has not been encoded yet. In the example of FIG. 4, since the adjacent block C is intra prediction, the prediction candidate of the motion vector predictor index 3 is an unpredictable candidate and is deleted from the motion vector predictor candidate list. In addition, since the predicted motion vector in the prediction direction 0 generated from the adjacent block D has the same value as the predicted motion vector in the prediction direction 0 generated from the adjacent block A, the prediction candidate of the predicted motion vector index 4 is predicted. It is deleted from the motion vector candidate list. Finally, the number of motion vector predictor candidates in the prediction direction 0 is 3, and the list size of the motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 0 is set to 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 1. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the number of motion vector predictor candidates in the prediction direction 1 is finally set to 2 by deleting the unpredictable candidates and the overlap candidates, and the list size of the motion vector predictor candidate list in the prediction direction 1 is set to 2. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 6, a bit string is assigned to the motion vector predictor index according to the size of the motion vector predictor candidate list size. As a result, the motion vector predictor index is variable length encoded. When the predicted motion vector candidate list size is 1, the predicted motion vector index is not attached to the bit stream, and the value 0 is estimated on the decoding side. As described above, in the motion vector predictor designation mode, the bit amount assigned to the motion vector predictor index is changed according to the size of the motion vector predictor candidate list size, thereby reducing the code amount.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an encoding process flow when the motion vector predictor designation mode is used. In step S1001, a prediction motion vector candidate in the prediction direction X is calculated from the adjacent block and the co-located block (hereinafter referred to as a prediction block candidate). Here, X takes a value of 0 or 1, and represents the prediction direction 0 or the prediction direction 1, respectively. Here, the prediction motion vector candidate sMvLX in the prediction direction X is calculated by the following equation using the motion vector MvLX_N of the prediction block candidate, the reference picture index RefLX_N, and the reference picture index RefLX of the encoding target block.
(Formula 1)
sMvLX =
MvLX_N × (POC (RefLX) −curPOC) / (POC (RefLX_N) −curPOC)

Here, POC (RefLX) indicates the display order of the reference picture indicated by the reference picture index RefLX, POC (RefLX_N) indicates the display order of the reference picture indicated by the reference picture index RefLX_N, and curPOC indicates the display order of the encoding target picture. Show. When the prediction block candidate does not have the motion vector MvLX_N in the prediction direction X, the motion vector MvL (1-X) _N in the prediction direction (1-X) and the reference picture index RefL (1-X) _N are used. Then, the predicted motion vector sMvLX is calculated by Equation 2.
(Formula 2)
sMvLX =
MvL (1-X) _N × (POC (RefLX) -curPOC) / (POC (RefL (1-X) _N) -curPOC)

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show examples of calculation of predicted motion vectors according to

equations

1 and 2. Note that scaling can be omitted when the values of POC (RefLX) and POC (RefLX_N) are the same as shown in

Equations

1 and 2, that is, when referring to the same picture.

In step S1002, duplicate candidates and unpredictable candidates are deleted from the predicted motion vector candidates in the prediction direction X, and in step S1003, the number of predicted motion vector candidates after the deletion process is set to the predicted motion vector candidate list size. In step S1004, a prediction motion vector index used for motion vector encoding in the prediction direction 0 of the encoding target block is determined. In step S1005, the determined prediction motion vector index is a bit string determined by the prediction motion vector candidate list size. Is used to perform variable length coding.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a decoding process flow when the predicted motion vector designation mode is used.

In step S2001, a prediction motion vector candidate in the prediction direction X is calculated from the adjacent block and the co-located block (prediction block candidate). In step S2002, duplicate candidates and unpredictable candidates are deleted from the predicted motion vector candidates. In step S2003, the number of predicted motion vector candidates after the deletion process is set to the predicted motion vector candidate list size. In step S2004, the motion vector predictor index used for decoding the decoding target block from the bitstream is decoded using the motion vector predictor candidate list size. In step S2005, the motion vector predictor candidate indicated by the decoded motion vector predictor index is decoded. In addition, a motion vector is calculated by adding the difference motion vector, a predicted image is generated using the calculated motion vector, and a decoding process is performed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a syntax for attaching a motion vector predictor index to a bitstream. In FIG. 10, inter_pred_flag represents a prediction direction flag for inter prediction, and mvp_idx represents a motion vector predictor index. NumMVPCand represents the predicted motion vector candidate list size, and the number of predicted motion vector candidates after the unpredictable candidate and the duplicate candidate are deleted from the predicted motion vector candidates is set.

However, in the conventional prediction motion vector designation mode, the prediction motion vector for encoding the motion vector of the encoding target block is calculated from the adjacent block or the like of the encoding target block. When the encoding target block is a static region, the prediction motion vector is affected by the moving object region, so that the prediction motion vector for efficiently encoding the motion vector of the encoding target block having a relatively small value is May not exist in the motion vector predictor candidates, and the coding efficiency may be reduced.

Also, in the conventional prediction motion vector designation mode, it is not considered that a block is encoded with reference to a picture that temporally matches the block. For example, an image encoding apparatus according to MVC (Multiview Video Coding) may encode a non-base view picture with reference to a base view picture. At this time, two pictures having a reference relationship (a base view picture and a non-base view picture) coincide temporally. At this time, there may be a case where a motion vector predictor for encoding a motion vector referring to a picture of the base view does not exist in a motion vector predictor candidate calculated from an adjacent block or the like, resulting in a decrease in encoding efficiency. is there.

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention provides an image coding method that improves coding efficiency by adding a motion vector for a still region to a motion vector predictor candidate list. In addition, when referring to pictures belonging to different views, an image coding method is provided that improves the coding efficiency by adding a disparity vector corresponding to the view to a predicted motion vector candidate.

That is, in the moving picture coding method according to an aspect of the present invention, the motion vector of the coding target block is coded from at least one neighboring block that is a block spatially or temporally adjacent to the coding target block. A motion picture encoding method for calculating a prediction motion vector for encoding and encoding the target block, wherein a first prediction motion vector candidate is calculated from the at least one adjacent block A predictive motion vector calculating step; a second predictive motion vector candidate having a motion vector of value 0; or a third predictive motion vector candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the encoding target picture 2 predicted motion vector calculation steps, the first predicted motion vector candidate, and the second predicted motion vector A prediction motion vector determining step for determining the prediction motion vector used for encoding the motion vector of the encoding target block from among the vector candidates or the third prediction motion vector candidate; and specifying the prediction motion vector And an index encoding step for attaching an index to the bitstream.

Thereby, not only the first predicted motion vector candidate but also the second predicted motion vector candidate having a motion vector of 0 or the third predicted motion vector candidate having a disparity vector can be predicted motion. Since the vector is determined, the encoding efficiency can be improved.

In the second motion vector predictor calculating step, if the reference picture referenced by the motion vector of the coding target block and the coding target picture belong to different views, the third prediction motion vector calculation step. Motion vector candidates may be calculated.

Thus, since the third motion vector predictor candidate having a disparity vector can be determined as a motion vector predictor, encoding efficiency can be improved.

In the second motion vector predictor calculating step, the second motion vector predictor is calculated when the number of the first motion vector predictor candidates calculated in the first motion vector predictor calculating step is smaller than a predetermined value. A motion vector candidate or the third predicted motion vector candidate may be calculated.

Thereby, it is possible to prevent the second motion vector predictor candidate or the third motion vector predictor candidate from being calculated until unnecessary, and the processing load can be reduced.

The video encoding method further calculates, as the predetermined value, the number of adjacent block candidates that are adjacent blocks that can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector among the at least one adjacent block. A candidate number calculating step, wherein the candidate number calculating step calculates the candidate number by performing an update step for updating the candidate number for each adjacent block, and the updating step includes: (i) intra Whether the block is encoded by prediction, (ii) a block located outside the boundary of the slice or picture including the encoding target block, and (iii) a block that has not been encoded yet If the determination result in the first determination step and the first determination step is true, A determination step that determines that the adjacent block cannot be used for calculation of the motion vector, and determines that the adjacent block can be used for calculation of the predicted motion vector if the determination result is false; In the step, a second determination is made to determine whether or not the adjacent block can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector, or whether or not the adjacent block is a temporally adjacent block If the determination result in the second determination step is true, an addition step of adding 1 to the number of candidates may be included.

This makes it possible to appropriately set a predetermined value and reduce the processing load.

The moving picture decoding method according to an aspect of the present invention decodes a motion vector of the decoding target block from at least one adjacent block that is spatially or temporally adjacent to the decoding target block. A motion picture decoding method for calculating a prediction motion vector for converting to a decoding target block, wherein a first prediction motion vector candidate is calculated from the at least one adjacent block A predictive motion vector calculating step; a second predictive motion vector candidate having a motion vector of value 0; or a third predictive motion vector candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the decoding target picture 2 predicted motion vector calculation steps, the first predicted motion vector candidate, and the second predicted motion vector. An acquisition step of acquiring an index for specifying a toll candidate or the third predicted motion vector candidate from a bitstream, and the first predicted motion vector candidate and the second predicted motion vector specified by the index A decoding step of decoding the block to be decoded using the candidate or the third motion vector predictor candidate.

Thereby, not only the first predicted motion vector candidate but also the second predicted motion vector candidate having a motion vector of 0 or the third predicted motion vector candidate having a disparity vector can be predicted motion. Since the vector is determined, it is possible to appropriately decode a bitstream that is improved in encoding efficiency.

In the second motion vector predictor calculating step, if the reference picture referred to by the motion vector of the decoding target block and the decoding target picture belong to different views, the third prediction motion vector calculation step is performed. Motion vector candidates may be calculated.

As a result, the decoding target block can be decoded using the third prediction motion vector candidate having a disparity vector as a prediction motion vector, and therefore, it is possible to appropriately decode a bitstream with improved encoding efficiency. it can.

Further, the moving picture decoding method further calculates, as the predetermined value, the number of adjacent block candidates that are adjacent blocks that can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector among the at least one adjacent block. A candidate number calculating step, wherein the candidate number calculating step calculates the candidate number by performing an update step for updating the candidate number for each adjacent block, and the updating step includes: (i) intra Whether the block is encoded by prediction, (ii) a block located outside the boundary of the slice or picture including the decoding target block, and (iii) a block that has not been decoded yet If the determination result in the first determination step and the first determination step is true, A determination step that determines that the adjacent block cannot be used for calculation of the motion vector, and determines that the adjacent block can be used for calculation of the predicted motion vector if the determination result is false; In the step, a second determination is made to determine whether or not the adjacent block can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector, or whether or not the adjacent block is a temporally adjacent block If the determination result in the second determination step is true, an addition step of adding 1 to the number of candidates may be included.

Note that these comprehensive or specific modes may be realized by a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, and the system, method, integrated circuit, and computer program. Alternatively, it may be realized by any combination of recording media.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

It should be noted that each of the embodiments described below shows a comprehensive or specific example. The numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement positions and connecting forms of the constituent elements, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept are described as optional constituent elements.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a video encoding device using the video encoding method according to Embodiment 1.

As shown in FIG. 11, the moving image coding apparatus 100 includes a subtraction unit 101, an orthogonal transformation unit 102, a quantization unit 103, an inverse quantization unit 104, an inverse orthogonal transformation unit 105, an addition unit 106, a block memory 107, a frame Memory 108, intra prediction unit 109, inter prediction unit 110, inter prediction control unit 111, disparity vector calculation unit 117, picture type determination unit 112, switch 113, prediction motion vector candidate calculation unit 114, colPic memory 115, and variable length code The conversion unit 116 is provided.

The subtraction unit 101 generates prediction error data by subtracting predicted image data from input image data included in the input image sequence for each block. The orthogonal transformation unit 102 performs transformation from the image domain to the frequency domain on the generated prediction error data. The quantization unit 103 performs a quantization process on the prediction error data converted into the frequency domain.

The inverse quantization unit 104 performs inverse quantization processing on the prediction error data quantized by the quantization unit 103. The inverse orthogonal transform unit 105 performs transform from the frequency domain to the image domain on the prediction error data subjected to the inverse quantization process.

The addition unit 106 generates reconstructed image data by adding the prediction image data and the prediction error data subjected to the inverse quantization processing by the inverse orthogonal transform unit 105 for each encoding target block. The block memory 107 stores the reconstructed image data in units of blocks. The frame memory 108 stores the reconstructed image data in units of frames.

The picture type determination unit 112 determines which of the I picture, B picture, and P picture is used to encode the input image data, and generates picture type information. The intra prediction unit 109 generates intra prediction image data of the encoding target block by performing intra prediction using the reconstructed image data in units of blocks stored in the block memory 107. The inter prediction unit 110 performs inter prediction using the reconstructed image data in units of frames stored in the frame memory 108 and the motion vector derived by motion detection or the like, so that the inter prediction image of the encoding target block Generate data.

When the encoding target block is subjected to intra prediction encoding, the switch 113 outputs the intra prediction image data generated by the intra prediction unit 109 to the subtraction unit 101 and the addition unit 106 as prediction image data of the encoding target block. To do. On the other hand, when the encoding target block is subjected to inter prediction encoding, the switch 113 uses the inter prediction image data generated by the inter prediction unit 110 as the prediction image data of the encoding target block. Output to.

The predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 114 uses the colPic information such as the motion vector of the adjacent block of the encoding target block and the motion vector of the co-located block stored in the colPic memory 115 to specify the predicted motion vector. A mode motion vector predictor candidate is derived, and the number of motion vector predictor candidates is calculated by a method described later. Further, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 assigns the value of the motion vector predictor index to the derived motion vector predictor candidate. Then, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sends the motion vector predictor candidate and the motion vector predictor index to the inter prediction control unit 111. Also, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 transmits the calculated number of motion vector predictor candidates to the variable length coding unit 116.

The inter prediction control unit 111 controls the inter prediction unit 110 to perform inter prediction encoding using an inter prediction image generated using a motion vector derived by motion detection. In addition, the inter prediction control unit 111 selects a motion vector predictor candidate that is optimal for coding the motion vector used for the inter prediction coding by a method described later. Then, the inter prediction control unit 111 sends a prediction motion vector index corresponding to the selected prediction motion vector candidate and prediction error information (difference motion vector) to the variable length encoding unit 116. Further, the inter prediction control unit 111 transfers colPic information including the motion vector of the encoding target block to the colPic memory 115.

The disparity vector calculation unit 117 calculates a disparity vector for each view by using a motion vector used for inter prediction encoding by a method described later.

The variable length coding unit 116 generates a bitstream by performing variable length coding processing on the prediction error data, the prediction direction flag, the picture type information, and the difference motion vector that have been quantized. Further, the variable length coding unit 116 sets the number of motion vector predictor candidates to the motion vector predictor candidate list size, and adds a bit string corresponding to the motion vector predictor candidate list size to the motion vector predictor index used for motion vector coding. Allocate and perform variable length coding.

In the present embodiment, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 is configured as the first motion vector predictor calculation unit, and the constituent element group including the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 and the parallax vector calculation unit 117 is the second. The prediction motion vector calculation unit is configured. Further, the inter prediction control unit 111 is configured as a motion vector predictor determining unit, and the variable length encoding unit 116 is configured as an index encoding unit.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the moving picture coding apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

In step S101, the inter prediction control unit 111 determines a prediction direction, a reference picture index, and a motion vector of an encoding target block by motion detection. Here, in motion detection, for example, a difference value between a coding target block in a coded picture and a block in a reference picture is calculated, and a block in the reference picture having the smallest difference value is determined as a reference block. Then, a motion vector is obtained from a coding target block position and a reference block position using a method for obtaining a motion vector. In addition, the inter prediction control unit 111 performs motion detection on the reference pictures of the prediction direction 0 and the prediction direction 1 respectively, and determines whether or not to select the prediction direction 0, the prediction direction 1, or the bidirectional prediction. For example, it is calculated by the following equation of the RD optimization model.
(Formula 3) Cost = D + λ × R

In Expression 3, D represents encoding distortion, and a pixel value obtained by encoding and decoding a block to be encoded using a prediction image generated with a certain motion vector, and an original pixel value of the block to be encoded The sum of absolute differences is used. R represents the generated code amount, and the code amount necessary for encoding the motion vector used for predictive image generation is used. Λ is Lagrange's undetermined multiplier.

In step S102, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 generates a motion vector predictor candidate from the adjacent block and the co-located block of the encoding target block, and calculates a motion vector predictor candidate list size by a method described later. . For example, in the case shown in FIG. 3, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 selects, for example, motion vectors of adjacent blocks A, B, C, and D as motion vector predictor candidates for the encoding target block. Further, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 114 calculates a motion vector or the like calculated by the temporal prediction mode from the motion vector of the co-located block as a predicted motion vector candidate.

The motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 assigns motion vector predictor indexes to motion vector predictor candidates in the prediction direction 0 and the prediction direction 1 as shown in FIG. 13 (a) and FIG. 14 (a). Then, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 deletes the non-predictable candidate and the overlap candidate and adds a zero candidate or a disparity vector candidate by a method described later, thereby performing (b) and FIG. The motion vector predictor candidate list and the motion vector predictor candidate list size as in (b) of FIG. 14 are calculated. A zero candidate is a motion vector having a value of zero.

The smaller the value of the predicted motion vector index, the shorter the code assigned to the predicted motion vector index. That is, when the value of the motion vector predictor index is small, the amount of information required for the motion vector predictor index is reduced. On the other hand, as the value of the motion vector predictor index increases, the amount of information required for the motion vector predictor index increases. Therefore, if a motion vector predictor index with a small value is assigned to a motion vector predictor candidate that is likely to be a motion vector predictor with higher accuracy, the coding efficiency increases.

Therefore, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 measures, for example, the number of times selected as a motion vector predictor for each motion vector predictor candidate, and assigns a motion vector predictor index having a small value to the motion vector predictor candidate with a large number of times. It may be assigned. Specifically, it is conceivable that the predicted motion vector selected in the adjacent block is specified, and the value of the predicted motion vector index for the specified predicted motion vector candidate is reduced when the target block is encoded.

In addition, when an adjacent block does not hold information such as a motion vector (when it is a block encoded by intra prediction or when it is located outside the boundary of a picture or a slice, it is a block that has not been encoded yet) In some cases, it cannot be used as a motion vector predictor candidate.

In this embodiment, the fact that it cannot be used as a motion vector predictor candidate is called an unpredictable candidate. Also, the fact that it can be used as a motion vector predictor candidate is called a predictable candidate. In addition, among a plurality of motion vector predictor candidates, a motion vector predictor candidate whose value matches that of any other motion vector predictor candidate is referred to as a duplication candidate.

In the case of FIG. 3, since the adjacent block C is a block encoded by intra prediction, it is determined as an unpredictable candidate. In addition, the prediction motion vector sMvL0_D in the prediction direction 0 generated from the adjacent block D has the same value as the prediction motion vector MvL0_A in the prediction direction 0 generated from the adjacent block A, and is assumed to be a duplication candidate.

In step S103, the inter prediction control unit 111 determines the value of the motion vector predictor index used for motion vector coding in the prediction direction X by a method described later. In step S104, the variable length encoding unit 116 adds a bit string corresponding to the predicted motion vector candidate list size as shown in FIG. 6 to the predicted motion vector index of the predicted motion vector candidate used for motion vector encoding in the prediction direction X. Assign and perform variable length coding. In S105, the disparity vector calculation unit 117 updates the disparity vector for each view using the motion vector used for the inter prediction encoding by a method described later.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13A and FIG. 14A, “0” is assigned as the value of the motion vector predictor index corresponding to adjacent block A, and it corresponds to adjacent block B. “1” is assigned as the value of the predicted motion vector index to be performed, “2” is assigned as the value of the predicted motion vector index corresponding to the co-located block, and “2” is assigned as the value of the predicted motion vector index corresponding to the adjacent block C. 3 ”is assigned and“ 4 ”is assigned as the value of the predicted motion vector index corresponding to the adjacent block D, but the method of assigning the predicted motion vector index is not necessarily limited to this example. For example, the variable length encoding unit 116 assigns a small value to the original motion vector predictor candidate when a zero candidate or a disparity vector candidate is added using a method described later, The predicted motion vector index with a smaller value may be assigned in preference to the original predicted motion vector candidate so that a larger value is assigned to the disparity vector candidate.

Also, the motion vector predictor candidates are not necessarily limited to the positions of adjacent blocks A, B, C, and D. For example, an adjacent block or the like located above the lower left adjacent block D may be used as a predicted motion vector candidate. Moreover, it is not necessarily limited to using all adjacent blocks. For example, only adjacent blocks A and B may be used as motion vector predictor candidates, or if adjacent block D is an unpredictable candidate, You may make it scan an adjacent block in order, such as using the block A. FIG.

In the present embodiment, the variable length coding unit 116 adds the motion vector predictor index to the bitstream in step S104 of FIG. 12, but when the motion vector predictor candidate list size is 1, the motion vector predictor There is no need to add an index. Thereby, the information amount of a motion vector predictor index can be reduced.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S102 of FIG. Specifically, FIG. 15 illustrates a method of calculating a motion vector predictor candidate and a motion vector predictor candidate list size. Hereinafter, FIG. 15 will be described.

In step S111a, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether the prediction block candidate [N] is a predictable candidate by a method described later. Here, N is an index value for representing each prediction block candidate, and takes a value from 0 to 4 in the present embodiment. Specifically, the prediction block candidate [0] includes the adjacent block A in FIG. 3, the prediction block candidate [1] includes the adjacent block B in FIG. 3, and the prediction block candidate [2] includes the co-located block and the prediction block. 3 is allocated to the candidate [3], and the adjacent block D of FIG. 3 is allocated to the prediction block candidate [4].

In step S112, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 calculates a motion vector predictor candidate in the prediction direction X from the prediction block candidate [N] using the

above formulas

1 and 2, and the motion vector predictor candidate list. Add to In step S113, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 cannot predict from the motion vector predictor candidate list as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B and FIGS. 14A and 14B. Search for candidates and duplicate candidates and delete them. In step S114a, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether the reference picture referred to by the motion vector calculated in step S101 of FIG. 12 and the encoding target picture belong to the same view. If true (Yes in step S114a), in step S144b, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds a zero candidate to the motion vector predictor candidate list by a method described later. On the other hand, if false (No in step S114a), in step S114c, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds a disparity vector candidate for the view to which the reference picture belongs to the motion vector predictor candidate list using a method described later. Here, when adding a zero candidate or a disparity vector candidate in step S114b and step S114c, for example, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 114 assigns a small predicted motion vector index to the original predicted motion vector candidate. Reassignment is performed so that a predicted motion vector index having a large value is assigned to a zero candidate or a disparity vector candidate. As described above, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 may prioritize a motion vector predictor candidate that is originally present. Thereby, the code amount of the motion vector predictor index can be reduced.

In step S115, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sets, as the motion vector predictor candidate list size, the number of motion vector candidates after adding the zero candidates calculated in step S114b or step S114c or the parallax vector candidates. In the examples of FIGS. 13A and 13B and FIGS. 14A and 14B, the number of motion vector predictor candidates in the prediction direction 0 is “4” by the method described later, and the prediction direction 0 The predicted motion vector candidate list size is set to “4”. Also, the number of motion vector predictor candidates in the prediction direction 1 is “3”, and the motion vector predictor candidate list size in the prediction direction 1 is set to “3”.

As described above, when the number of motion vector predictor candidates does not reach the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates, the zero candidate or the disparity depends on whether the reference picture and the encoding target picture belong to the same view. Coding efficiency can be improved by adding vector candidates.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference relationship according to the present embodiment. FIG. 16 shows three views: a base view, a non-base view 1, and a non-base view 2. Each of the three views is composed of a plurality of pictures. For example, the three views are three videos with different viewpoints. Video encoding apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment may have an MVC function for encoding multi-view video.

For example, when encoding the non-base view 2, the moving image encoding apparatus 100 having the MVC function refers to pictures belonging to different viewpoints, such as a base view or a non-base view 1 picture, to generate a non-base view 2. The picture of the base view 2 can be encoded. In FIG. 16, each picture is encoded in the order of P0, P1,... P8. For example, when a picture P5 belonging to the non-base view 2 is encoded, not only P2 belonging to the same view as P5 but also P3 belonging to the base view and P4 belonging to the non-base view 1 are referred as reference pictures. Is possible. When the picture P5 is encoded, for example, as a method of calculating a disparity vector with respect to the base view, it is conceivable to calculate an average of motion vectors when each encoding target block in the picture P5 refers to the base view. . Similarly, as a method of calculating a disparity vector for the non-base view 1, it is conceivable to obtain an average of motion vectors when each encoding target block in the picture P5 refers to the non-base view 1. The disparity vector for each view calculated in this way is added to the motion vector predictor candidate list when the next picture P8 belonging to the same view as the picture P5 is encoded. The disparity vector calculating unit 117 calculates a disparity vector for each view by the method as described above, and the predicted motion vector candidate calculating unit 114 adds the calculated disparity vector to the predicted motion vector candidate list.

Specifically, when the motion vector obtained by motion detection refers to P5 belonging to the same view when encoding the encoding target block of the picture P8, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 Zero candidates are added to the motion vector predictor candidate list. On the other hand, when the motion vector obtained by motion detection refers to a different view, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds the disparity vector candidate of the corresponding view to the motion vector predictor candidate list. For example, when the motion vector of the encoding target block refers to the picture P7, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 114 adds the disparity vector for the non-base view 1 to the predicted motion vector candidate list.

As described above, when the reference picture of the encoding target picture belongs to the same view, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds the zero candidate as the motion vector predictor candidate, and the reference picture of the encoding target picture is different. When belonging to a view, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 114 adds the disparity vector candidate corresponding to the view calculated by the disparity vector calculation unit 117 to the predicted motion vector candidate list. Thereby, encoding efficiency can be improved. For example, in the case of an image obtained by shooting a landscape with a small amount of motion with a multi-viewpoint camera or the like, when encoding with reference to a picture shot with the same camera, the motion vector is (0, 0) because the motion is small. The coding efficiency can be improved by adding zero candidates to the motion vector predictor candidate list. In addition, when encoding with reference to video captured by different cameras, encoding efficiency is improved by adding a parallax vector to the predicted motion vector candidate list in order to take into account the parallax caused by the difference in shooting position. Can be improved.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S111a in FIG. Specifically, FIG. 17 illustrates a method for determining whether or not the prediction block candidate [N] is a predictable candidate. Hereinafter, FIG. 17 will be described. In step S121, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 is a block in which the prediction block candidate [N] is encoded by intra prediction, a block located outside the slice or picture boundary, or a block that has not been encoded yet. It is determined whether or not. If the result of the determination is true (Yes in S121), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sets the predicted block candidate [N] as an unpredictable candidate in step S122. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S121 is false (No in S121), in step S123, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sets the prediction block candidate [N] as a predictable candidate.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S114b of FIG. Hereinafter, FIG. 18 will be described.

In step S131a, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether the number of motion vector predictor candidates has reached the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates. If the determination result is true (Yes in S131a), in step S132a, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether a zero candidate having a motion vector of 0 is not a duplication candidate. If the determination results in steps S131a and S132a are true (Yes in S132a), in step S133a, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 assigns a motion vector predictor index to the zero candidate. Furthermore, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds the zero candidate and the motion vector predictor index to the motion vector predictor candidate list, and adds 1 to the number of motion vector predictor candidates in step S134.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S131a that the number of motion vector predictor candidates has reached the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates (No in S131a), or if it is determined in step S132a that the zero candidate is a duplication candidate. In (No in S132a), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 ends the zero candidate addition process. In this embodiment, in step S132a, it is determined whether a zero candidate having a motion vector of 0 is not a duplication candidate. If the zero candidate is a duplication candidate, the zero candidate is added to the predicted motion vector candidate list. This is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the process of step S132a may be omitted, and if the determination result in step S131a is true, a zero candidate may be always added to the motion vector predictor candidate list. Thereby, the processing amount for duplication candidate confirmation can be reduced.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S114c of FIG. Hereinafter, FIG. 19 will be described.

In step S131b, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether the number of motion vector predictor candidates has reached the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates. If the determination result is true (Yes in S131b), in step S132b, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether the disparity vector candidate for the view to which the reference picture belongs is not a duplication candidate. If the determination results in steps S131b and S132b are true (Yes in S132b), in step S133b, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 assigns a motion vector predictor index to the parallax vector candidate. Further, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 114 adds the disparity vector candidate and the predicted motion vector index to the predicted motion vector candidate list, and adds 1 to the number of predicted motion vector candidates in step S134.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S131b that the number of motion vector predictor candidates has reached the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates (No in step S131b), or in step 132b, it is determined that the disparity vector candidate is a duplication candidate. In the case (No in step S132b), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 ends the disparity vector candidate addition process. In the present embodiment, in step S132b, it is determined whether the disparity vector candidate for the view to which the reference picture belongs is not an overlap candidate. If the disparity vector candidate is an overlap candidate, the disparity vector candidate is selected as a motion vector predictor candidate list. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the processing in step S132b may be omitted, and if the determination result in step S131b is true, the disparity vector candidates may always be added to the motion vector predictor candidate list. Thereby, the processing amount for duplication candidate confirmation can be reduced.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S103 of FIG. Hereinafter, FIG. 20 will be described.

In step S141, the inter prediction control unit 111 sets 0 as the motion vector predictor candidate index mvp_idx and sets the maximum value of the value as the minimum differential motion vector as initialization. In step S142, the inter prediction control unit 111 determines whether or not the value of the motion vector predictor candidate index mvp_idx is smaller than the number of motion vector predictor candidates. That is, the inter prediction control unit 111 determines whether or not the differential motion vectors of all motion vector predictor candidates have been calculated.

Here, if motion vector predictor candidates still remain (Yes in S142), in step S143, the inter prediction control unit 111 selects motion vector predictor candidates from motion vectors (motion detection result vectors) obtained by motion detection. By subtracting, a differential motion vector is calculated. In step S144, the inter prediction control unit 111 determines whether or not the difference motion vector obtained in step S143 is smaller than the minimum difference motion vector.

Here, if the determination result in step S144 is true (Yes in S144), in step S145, the inter prediction control unit 111 updates the values of the minimum difference motion vector and the predicted motion vector index. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S144 is false (No in S144), the inter prediction control unit 111 does not update the values of the minimum difference motion vector and the predicted motion vector index.

In step S146, the inter prediction control unit 111 updates the motion vector predictor candidate index by +1, and returns to step S142 to determine whether there is a next motion vector predictor candidate.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S142 that differential motion vectors have been calculated for all prediction motion vector candidates (No in S142), the inter prediction control unit 111 finally sets the minimum set in step S147. A differential motion vector and a predicted motion vector index are determined.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S105 in FIG. Hereinafter, FIG. 21 will be described.

In step S151, the disparity vector calculation unit 117 determines whether the reference picture referred to by the motion vector calculated in step S101 in FIG. 12 belongs to a view different from the encoding target picture (encoding target block). If the determination result is true (Yes in S151), in step S152, the disparity vector calculation unit 117 updates the disparity vector of the view to which the picture to which the motion vector refers belongs. For example, the motion vector calculated in step S101 in FIG. 12 may be averaged with the disparity vector of the corresponding view. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S151 is false (No in S151), the disparity vector calculation unit 117 does not update the disparity vector.

22 and 23 are diagrams illustrating an example of a disparity vector for each view when a picture having a structure as illustrated in FIG. 16 is encoded. When the non-base view 2 is encoded, the base view and the non-base view 1 are referred to. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, the disparity vector of the non-base view 2 for each view is converted into a disparity vector calculation unit 117. Is managed and memorized. When encoding the non-base view 1, as shown in FIG. 23, the disparity vector calculation unit 117 manages and stores the disparity vector of the non-base view 1 corresponding to the base view in order to refer to the base view. is doing.

In the present embodiment, (1) the example in which the disparity vector for each view is calculated using the motion vector calculated by the motion detection is not limited to this. For example, (2) a multi-view camera If the camera parameters including the shooting position are known, the parallax vector may be calculated from the shooting position. (3) If the depth information of each picture is known, the depth information The parallax vector may be calculated from the above. Further, the parallax vector may be calculated by a combination of (1), (2), and (3). Thereby, a more accurate parallax vector can be calculated and encoding efficiency can be improved.

As described above, according to moving picture coding apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve coding efficiency by adding a motion vector for a still region to a motion vector predictor candidate list. Become. Also, when referring to pictures belonging to different views, it is possible to improve coding efficiency by adding a disparity vector corresponding to the view to the motion vector predictor candidate list. More specifically, when the number of motion vector predictor candidates does not reach the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates, a motion with a value of 0 depends on whether the reference picture and the current picture to be coded belong to the same view. Coding efficiency can be improved by adding zero candidates having vectors or disparity vector candidates for each view.

In the present embodiment, an example in which a zero candidate having a motion vector of 0 as a motion vector for a still region is added to a predicted motion vector candidate when referring to the same view is not necessarily limited thereto. . For example, in order to consider minute camera shake at the time of video shooting, a motion vector (0, 1) or a value slightly larger than or slightly smaller than a motion vector (0, 0) having a value of 0 is predicted motion vector. You may make it add to a candidate. Further, an offset parameter (OffsetX, OffsetY) or the like may be added to a sequence, picture, or slice header, and a motion vector (OffsetX, OffsetY) may be added to a predicted motion vector candidate.

In the present embodiment, an example using a prediction motion vector designation mode in which a motion vector predictor candidate is generated from an adjacent block of an encoding target block and a motion vector of the encoding target block is encoded has been shown. It is not necessarily limited to this. For example, by selecting a predicted motion vector from predicted motion vector candidates created as shown in FIGS. 13B and 14B, and directly generating a predicted image using the selected predicted motion vector as a motion vector, The difference motion vector may not be added to the bitstream (direct mode, skip mode, merge mode, etc.).

In the present embodiment, the disparity vector for each view calculated by the disparity vector calculating unit 117 is not added to the header, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, a disparity vector may be added to header information such as SPS (sequence parameter set), PPS (picture parameter set), or slice header. Accordingly, the moving image decoding apparatus does not need to include the disparity vector calculating unit 117, and can obtain a disparity vector by decoding the disparity vector for each view added to the header. Processing of the decryption device can be reduced. For example, when a picture having the structure shown in FIG. 16 is encoded, the disparity for each view of the non-base view 2 as shown in FIG. 22 obtained after encoding the picture P5 in the slice header of the picture P8 or the like. It is conceivable to encode the picture P8 by adding a vector.

In the present embodiment, in step S151 in FIG. 21, when the picture to which the motion vector refers belongs to the same view, the disparity vector is not calculated using the motion vector, but this is not necessarily the case. . For example, even when the reference picture belongs to the same view, an average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view is calculated by addition averaging or the like. In step S114b of FIG. 15, the same value is used instead of the zero candidate. You may make it add the average value of the motion vector of each reference picture which belongs to a view. This makes it possible to improve the encoding efficiency when referring to the same view when encoding video that pans and tilts in a certain direction.

Also, the average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view may be added to header information such as SPS (sequence parameter set), PPS (picture parameter set), or slice header, for example. . Thereby, the moving picture decoding apparatus does not need to calculate the average value of the motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view, and the average value of the motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view added to the header is calculated. By decoding, it is possible to obtain an average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view, and the processing of the video decoding device can be reduced.

As described above, the moving picture encoding method according to the present embodiment encodes the motion vector of the encoding target block from at least one adjacent block that is spatially or temporally adjacent to the encoding target block. This is a moving picture encoding method for calculating a prediction motion vector for encoding and encoding the encoding target block. The moving image encoding method includes a first predicted motion vector calculation step (S111a) for calculating a first predicted motion vector candidate from the at least one adjacent block, and a second motion vector having a value of 0. A second motion vector predictor calculating step (S114b, S114c) for calculating a motion vector predictor candidate or a third motion vector predictor candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the encoding target picture; The predicted motion vector used for encoding the motion vector of the encoding target block is determined from the predicted motion vector candidates and the second predicted motion vector candidates or the third predicted motion vector candidates. A predicted motion vector determining step (S103) and specifying the predicted motion vector Including the index encoding step of accompanying the index in the bit stream (S104), the.

In the second prediction motion vector calculation step (S114b, S114c), when the reference picture referred to by the motion vector of the encoding target block and the encoding target picture belong to different views (in S114a) In No), the third motion vector predictor candidate is calculated.

In the second predicted motion vector calculation step (S114b, S114c), the number of first predicted motion vector candidates calculated in the first predicted motion vector calculation step (S111a) is smaller than a predetermined value. In this case, the second motion vector predictor candidate or the third motion vector predictor candidate is calculated.

In the present embodiment, each component may be configured by dedicated hardware or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Here, the software that realizes the image coding apparatus according to the present embodiment is a program that causes a computer to execute each process included in the above-described moving image coding method.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a video decoding device using the video decoding method according to Embodiment 2.

As shown in FIG. 24, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300 includes a variable length decoding unit 301, an inverse quantization unit 302, an inverse orthogonal transform unit 303, an addition unit 304, a block memory 305, a frame memory 306, and an intra prediction unit 307. An inter prediction unit 308, an inter prediction control unit 309, a switch 310, a disparity vector calculation unit 313, a predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 311, and a colPic memory 312.

The variable length decoding unit 301 performs variable length decoding processing on the input bitstream to generate picture type information, a prediction direction flag, a quantization coefficient, and a difference motion vector. In addition, the variable length decoding unit 301 performs a variable length decoding process on the motion vector predictor index using the number of motion vector predictor candidates acquired from the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311.

The inverse quantization unit 302 performs an inverse quantization process on the quantized coefficient obtained by the variable length decoding process. The inverse orthogonal transform unit 303 generates prediction error data by transforming the orthogonal transform coefficient obtained by the inverse quantization process from the frequency domain to the image domain. The block memory 305 stores decoded image data generated by adding the prediction error data and the prediction image data in units of blocks. The frame memory 306 stores decoded image data in units of frames.

The intra prediction unit 307 generates predicted image data of the decoding target block by performing intra prediction using the decoded image data in units of blocks stored in the block memory 305. The inter prediction unit 308 generates predicted image data of a decoding target block by performing inter prediction using the decoded image data in units of frames stored in the frame memory 306.

When the decoding target block is subjected to intra prediction decoding, the switch 310 outputs the intra prediction image data generated by the intra prediction unit 307 to the adding unit 304 as prediction image data of the decoding target block. On the other hand, when the decoding target block is subjected to inter prediction decoding, the switch 310 outputs the inter prediction image data generated by the inter prediction unit 308 to the adding unit 304 as prediction image data of the decoding target block.

The predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 311 uses the colPic information such as the motion vector of the adjacent block of the decoding target block and the motion vector of the co-located block stored in the colPic memory 312 to specify the predicted motion vector. The predicted motion vector candidates and the number of predicted motion vector candidates for the mode are derived by the method described later. Also, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 311 assigns a value of the predicted motion vector index to each derived predicted motion vector candidate. Then, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 sends the motion vector predictor candidate and the motion vector predictor index to the inter prediction control unit 309. Also, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 sends the number of motion vector predictor candidates to the variable length decoding unit 301.

The inter prediction control unit 309 selects a prediction motion vector used for inter prediction based on the decoded prediction motion vector index from the prediction motion vector candidates. Then, the inter prediction control unit 309 calculates a motion vector of the decoding target block from the prediction motion vector and the difference motion vector. Then, the inter prediction control unit 309 causes the inter prediction unit 308 to generate an inter prediction image using the calculated motion vector. Also, the inter prediction control unit 309 transfers colPic information including the motion vector of the decoding target block to the colPic memory 312.

The disparity vector calculation unit 313 calculates disparity vectors for each view using a motion vector used for inter prediction by a method described later.

Finally, the adding unit 304 generates decoded image data by adding the predicted image data and the prediction error data.

In the present embodiment, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 is configured as the first motion vector predictor calculation unit, and the constituent element group including the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 and the parallax vector calculation unit 313 is the second. The prediction motion vector calculation unit is configured. Further, the variable length decoding unit 301 is configured as an acquisition unit, and a component group including at least the inter prediction unit 308 is configured as a decoding unit.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the moving picture decoding apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment.

In step S301, the variable length decoding unit 301 decodes the prediction direction flag and the reference picture index. Then, the value of the prediction direction X is determined according to the decoded prediction direction flag, and the following processing from step S302a to step S306 is performed. In step S302a, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 determines a motion vector predictor candidate from the neighboring block and the co-located block of the decoding target block by the same method as in step S102 of FIG. Further, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 adds a zero candidate or a parallax vector candidate to calculate a motion vector predictor candidate list size.

In step S303, the variable length decoding unit 301 performs variable length decoding on the motion vector predictor index in the bitstream using the calculated motion vector predictor candidate list size. In step S305, the inter prediction control unit 309 adds the decoded differential motion vector to the predicted motion vector candidate indicated by the decoded predicted motion vector index, and calculates a motion vector. Then, the inter prediction control unit 309 causes the inter prediction unit 308 to generate an inter prediction image using the calculated motion vector. If the predicted motion vector candidate list size calculated in step S302a is “1”, the predicted motion vector index may be estimated as 0 without being decoded. In step S306, the disparity vector calculation unit 313 updates the disparity vector for each view using the motion vector used for inter prediction in the same manner as in step S105 in FIG.

As described above, according to the video decoding device 300 according to the present embodiment, a bit stream with improved coding efficiency is appropriately added by adding a motion vector for a still region to the motion vector predictor candidate list. Can be decrypted. Also, when referring to pictures belonging to different views, it is possible to appropriately decode a bitstream with improved coding efficiency by adding a disparity vector corresponding to the view to the motion vector predictor candidate list. Become. More specifically, when the number of motion vector predictor candidates does not reach the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates, a motion with a value of 0 depends on whether the reference picture and the current picture to be coded belong to the same view. By adding a zero candidate having a vector or a disparity vector candidate for each view, it is possible to appropriately decode a bitstream with improved encoding efficiency.

In the present embodiment, the example in which the disparity vector calculation unit 313 calculates the disparity vector for each view has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, a disparity vector for each view may be obtained by decoding a disparity vector added to header information such as SPS (sequence parameter set), PPS (picture parameter set), or slice header. Accordingly, the video decoding device 300 does not need to include the disparity vector calculation unit 313, and can obtain the disparity vector by decoding the disparity vector for each view added to the header. Processing of the decryption apparatus 300 can be reduced. For example, when a picture having a structure as shown in FIG. 16 is decoded, a disparity vector for each view of the non-base view 2 as shown in FIG. It is conceivable to decode P8.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax when a disparity vector is added to a slice header. The disparity vector may be added with both the horizontal component and the vertical component, or only the horizontal component may be added and the vertical component may be regarded as zero.

In the present embodiment, in step S151 in FIG. 21, when the picture to which the motion vector refers belongs to the same view, the disparity vector is not calculated using the motion vector, but this is not necessarily the case. . For example, even when the reference picture belongs to the same view, an average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view is calculated by addition averaging or the like. In step S114b of FIG. 15, the same value is used instead of the zero candidate. You may make it add the average value of the motion vector of each reference picture which belongs to a view. This makes it possible to appropriately decode a bitstream with improved encoding efficiency when referring to the same view when encoding video that pans and tilts in a certain direction.

Also, the average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view may be obtained from the bitstream. For example, by decoding an average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view, which is added to header information such as SPS (sequence parameter set), PPS (picture parameter set), or slice header, the average is obtained. Get the value. Thus, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300 does not need to calculate the average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view, and is added to the header, and the average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view , It is possible to obtain an average value of motion vectors for each reference picture belonging to the same view, and the processing of the moving picture decoding apparatus 300 can be reduced.

As described above, the moving picture decoding method according to the present embodiment decodes the motion vector of the decoding target block from at least one adjacent block that is spatially or temporally adjacent to the decoding target block. This is a moving picture decoding method for calculating a prediction motion vector for conversion into a decoding target block and decoding the decoding target block. The moving picture decoding method includes a first motion vector predictor calculating step (S111a) for calculating a first motion vector predictor candidate from the at least one adjacent block, and a second motion vector having a motion vector of 0. A second motion vector predictor calculation step (S114b, S114c) for calculating a motion vector predictor candidate or a third motion vector predictor candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the decoding target picture; Obtaining an index for identifying the predicted motion vector candidate, the second predicted motion vector candidate, or the third predicted motion vector candidate from the bitstream (S103), specified by the index, A first motion vector predictor candidate, the second motion vector predictor Le candidate or by using the third motion vector predictor candidates, including a decoding step (S305) for decoding the decoding target block.

In the second predicted motion vector calculation step (S114b, S114c), when the reference picture referred to by the motion vector of the decoding target block and the decoding target picture belong to different views (in S114a) In No), the third motion vector predictor candidate is calculated.

In the present embodiment, each component may be configured by dedicated hardware or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Here, the software that realizes the image decoding apparatus according to the present embodiment is a program that causes a computer to execute each process included in the above-described moving image decoding method.

(Embodiment 3)
In the present embodiment, a method for deriving the motion vector predictor candidate list size used in Embodiment 1 will be described in detail.

In the conventional prediction motion vector designation mode, a prediction motion vector candidate list size used when encoding or decoding a prediction motion vector index is determined using reference picture information including a co-located block or the like, a non-predictable candidate or an overlap. Candidates are deleted, and the number of predicted motion vector candidates after deletion is set to the predicted motion vector candidate list size. For this reason, when a mismatch occurs in the number of motion vector predictor candidates between the video image encoding device and the video image decoding device, the video image encoding device and the video image decoding device use a bit string assigned to the predicted motion vector index. There is a problem that a mismatch occurs and the bitstream cannot be correctly decoded.

For example, when information on a reference picture that has been referred to as a co-located block is lost due to packet loss or the like that has occurred in a transmission path or the like, since the motion vector and reference picture index of the co-located block are unknown, co- Information on a motion vector predictor candidate generated from the located block is unknown. As a result, it is impossible to correctly delete unpredictable candidates and duplicate candidates from the predicted motion vector candidates during decoding, and the predicted motion vector candidate list size cannot be obtained correctly, and the predicted motion vector index can be normally decoded. Disappear.

On the other hand, the method for deriving the predicted motion vector candidate list size described in the present embodiment uses the predicted motion vector candidate list size used when encoding or decoding the predicted motion vector index as a co-located block or the like. Since the calculation is performed by a method that does not depend on the included reference picture information, error tolerance can be improved.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the moving picture coding apparatus 100a according to the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 27, the moving image encoding apparatus 100 includes a subtraction unit 101, an orthogonal transformation unit 102, a quantization unit 103, an inverse quantization unit 104, an inverse orthogonal transformation unit 105, an addition unit 106, a block memory 107, a frame A memory 108, an intra prediction unit 109, an inter prediction unit 110, an inter prediction control unit 111, a picture type determination unit 112, a switch 113, a motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114, a colPic memory 115, and a variable length coding unit 116 are provided. Yes.

The motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 uses the colPic information such as the motion vector of the adjacent block of the encoding target block and the motion vector of the co-located block stored in the colPic memory 115 to specify the motion vector predictor. The mode motion vector predictor candidates are derived. Then, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 calculates the number of predictable candidates by a method described later. Further, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 assigns the value of the motion vector predictor index to the derived motion vector predictor candidate. Then, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sends the motion vector predictor candidate and the motion vector predictor index to the inter prediction control unit 111. Further, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 transmits the calculated number of predictable candidates to the variable length coding unit 116.

The variable length coding unit 116 generates a bitstream by performing variable length coding processing on the prediction error data, the prediction direction flag, the picture type information, and the differential motion vector that have been quantized. In addition, the variable length coding unit 116 sets the number of predictable candidates to the predicted motion vector candidate list size. Then, the variable length coding unit 116 performs variable length coding by assigning a bit string corresponding to the motion vector predictor candidate list size to the motion vector predictor index used for motion vector coding.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the video encoding apparatus 100a according to the third embodiment.

In step S101, the inter prediction control unit 111 determines the prediction direction, the reference picture index, and the motion vector of the encoding target block by motion detection. Here, in motion detection, for example, a difference value between a block to be encoded in the encoded picture and a block in the reference picture is calculated, and a block in the reference picture having the smallest difference value is determined as a reference block. . Then, a motion vector is obtained from a coding target block position and a reference block position using a method for obtaining a motion vector. In addition, the inter prediction control unit 111 performs motion detection on the reference pictures of the prediction direction 0 and the prediction direction 1 respectively, and determines whether or not to select the prediction direction 0, the prediction direction 1, or the bidirectional prediction. For example, it is calculated by the above (formula 3) of the RD optimization model.

In step S102, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 derives motion vector predictor candidates from the adjacent block and the co-located block of the encoding target block. Further, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 calculates the motion vector predictor candidate list size by a method described later. For example, in the case of FIG. 3, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 selects, for example, motion vectors of adjacent blocks A, B, C, and D as motion vector predictor candidates for the encoding target block. Further, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 114 calculates a motion vector or the like calculated by the temporal prediction mode from the motion vector of the co-located block as a predicted motion vector candidate.

The prediction motion vector candidate calculation unit 114 assigns a prediction motion vector index to the prediction motion vector candidates in the prediction direction 0 and the prediction direction 1 as shown in FIGS. 29 (a) and 30 (a). Then, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 deletes the unpredictable candidate and the duplicate candidate and adds a new candidate by a method to be described later, as shown in (b) of FIG. 29 and (b) of FIG. A predicted motion vector candidate list and a predicted motion vector candidate list size are calculated.

予測 The predicted motion vector index is assigned a shorter code as the value is smaller. That is, when the value of the motion vector predictor index is small, the amount of information required for the motion vector predictor index is reduced. On the other hand, as the value of the motion vector predictor index increases, the amount of information required for the motion vector predictor index increases. Therefore, when a motion vector predictor index having a small value is assigned to a motion vector predictor candidate that is likely to be a motion vector predictor with higher accuracy, the coding efficiency is increased.

If the adjacent block has no information such as a motion vector (if it is a block encoded by intra prediction, if it is a block located outside the boundary of a picture or slice, etc., the block that has not been encoded yet In the case of (or the like), it cannot be used as a motion vector predictor candidate.

In this embodiment, the fact that it cannot be used as a motion vector predictor candidate is called an unpredictable candidate. Also, the fact that it can be used as a motion vector predictor candidate is called a predictable candidate. In addition, among a plurality of motion vector predictor candidates, a candidate whose value matches that of any other motion vector predictor is referred to as a duplicate candidate.

In step S103, the inter prediction control unit 111 determines the value of the motion vector predictor index used for motion vector coding in the prediction direction X by a method described later. In step S104, the variable length coding unit 116 assigns a bit string corresponding to the predicted motion vector candidate list size as shown in FIG. 6 to the predicted motion vector index of the predicted motion vector candidate used for motion vector coding in the prediction direction X. Then, variable length coding is performed.

In this embodiment, “0” is assigned as the value of the predicted motion vector index for the adjacent block A as shown in FIG. 29 (a) and FIG. 30 (a). Further, “1” is assigned as the value of the motion vector predictor index corresponding to the adjacent block B. Further, “2” is assigned as the value of the motion vector predictor index corresponding to the co-located block. Also, “3” is assigned as the value of the predicted motion vector index corresponding to the adjacent block C. Further, “4” is assigned as the value of the predicted motion vector index corresponding to the adjacent block D.

Note that the method of assigning the value of the motion vector predictor index is not necessarily limited to this example. For example, when a new candidate is added using the method described in Embodiment 1 or the method described later, the variable length encoding unit 116 assigns a small value to the original motion vector predictor candidate. A large value may be assigned to the new candidate. That is, the variable-length encoding unit 116 may assign a small predicted motion vector index in preference to the original predicted motion vector candidate.

Also, the motion vector predictor candidates are not necessarily limited to the positions of adjacent blocks A, B, C, and D. For example, an adjacent block or the like located above the lower left adjacent block D may be used as a predicted motion vector candidate. Also, not all adjacent blocks need to be used as motion vector predictor candidates. For example, only adjacent blocks A and B may be used as motion vector predictor candidates. Alternatively, if the adjacent block D is an unpredictable candidate, the adjacent block may be scanned in order, such as using the adjacent block A.

In this embodiment, in step S104 in FIG. 28, the variable-length encoding unit 116 adds the motion vector predictor index to the bitstream, but it is not always necessary to add the motion vector predictor index to the bitstream. For example, when the motion vector predictor candidate list size is 1, the variable length coding unit 116 may not add the motion vector predictor index to the bitstream. Thereby, the information amount of a motion vector predictor index can be reduced.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S102 of FIG. Specifically, FIG. 31 illustrates a method of calculating a predicted motion vector candidate and a predicted motion vector candidate list size. Hereinafter, FIG. 31 will be described.

In step S111, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether or not the prediction block candidate [N] is a predictable candidate by a method described later. Then, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 updates the number of predictable candidates according to the determination result. Here, N is an index value for representing each prediction block candidate. In the present embodiment, N takes a value from 0 to 4. Specifically, the adjacent block A in FIG. 3 is allocated to the prediction block candidate [0]. Further, the adjacent block B in FIG. 3 is allocated to the prediction block candidate [1]. In addition, a co-located block is allocated to the prediction block candidate [2]. Further, the adjacent block C in FIG. 3 is allocated to the prediction block candidate [3]. Moreover, the adjacent block D of FIG. 3 is allocated to prediction block candidate [4].

above formulas

1 and 2, and the motion vector predictor candidate list. Add to In step S113, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 searches for the unpredictable candidate and the overlap candidate from the motion vector predictor candidate list and deletes them as shown in FIGS.

In step S114, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds a new candidate to the motion vector predictor candidate list by the method described in Embodiment 1 or the method described later. Here, when a new candidate is added, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 recalculates the value of the motion vector predictor index so that a smaller motion vector predictor index is assigned in preference to the original motion vector predictor candidate. Allocation may be performed. That is, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 may reassign the motion vector predictor value so that a new motion vector index with a larger value is assigned to the new candidate. Thereby, the code amount of the motion vector predictor index can be reduced.

In step S115, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sets the number of predictable candidates calculated in step S111 as the motion vector predictor candidate list size. In the example of FIGS. 29 and 30, the number of predictable candidates in the prediction direction 0 is calculated as “4” by the method described later, and “4” is set as the prediction motion vector candidate list size in the prediction direction 0. Also, the number of predictable candidates in the prediction direction 1 is calculated as “4”, and “4” is set as the predicted motion vector candidate list size in the prediction direction 1.

The new candidate in step S114 is newly added to the motion vector predictor candidate when the number of motion vector predictor candidates does not reach the number of predictable candidates by the method described in the first embodiment or the method described later. Candidate to be added. For example, the new candidate may be a predicted motion vector generated from an adjacent block located above the lower left adjacent block D in FIG. In addition, the new candidate may be, for example, a predicted motion vector generated from blocks corresponding to adjacent blocks A, B, C, and D of the co-located block. Further, the new candidate may be a predicted motion vector calculated from, for example, the motion picture statistics of the entire reference picture screen or a certain region. Thus, when the number of motion vector predictor candidates does not reach the number of predictable candidates, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds a new motion vector predictor as a new candidate, thereby improving the coding efficiency. It can be improved.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S111 of FIG. Specifically, FIG. 32 illustrates a method of determining whether or not the prediction block candidate [N] is a predictable candidate and updating the number of predictable candidates. Hereinafter, FIG. 32 will be described.

In step S121, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines that the prediction block candidate [N] is outside the slice or picture boundary including (1) a block encoded by intra prediction, or (2) a block to be encoded. It is determined whether the block is located or (3) a block that has not been encoded yet. If the determination result in step S121 is true (Yes in S121), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sets the prediction block candidate [N] as a non-predictable candidate in step S122. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S121 is false (No in S121), in step S123, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sets the prediction block candidate [N] as a predictable candidate.

In step S124, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether the prediction block candidate [N] is a predictable candidate or a co-located block candidate. If the determination result in step S124 is true (Yes in S124), in step S125, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds 1 to the number of predictable candidates and updates the number of motion vector predictor candidates. . On the other hand, if the determination result in step S124 is false (No in S124), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 does not update the number of predictable candidates.

Thus, when the prediction block candidate is a co-located block, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 sets the number of predictable candidates regardless of whether the co-located block is a predictable candidate or a non-predictable candidate. Add one. Thereby, even when the information of the co-located block is lost due to packet loss or the like, there is no mismatch in the number of predictable candidates between the moving picture coding apparatus and the moving picture decoding apparatus. This number of predictable candidates is set to the predicted motion vector candidate list size in step S115 of FIG. Further, in step S104 of FIG. 28, the motion vector predictor candidate list size is used for variable length coding of the motion vector predictor index. As a result, even when reference picture information including a co-located block or the like is lost, the video encoding apparatus 100a can generate a bitstream that can normally decode the predicted motion vector index.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S114 of FIG. Specifically, FIG. 33 shows a method for adding a new candidate. Hereinafter, FIG. 33 will be described.

In step S131, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether or not the number of motion vector predictor candidates is smaller than the number of predictable candidates. That is, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 determines whether or not the number of motion vector predictor candidates has reached the number of predictable candidates. If the determination result in step S131 is true (Yes in S131), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 includes a new candidate that can be added to the motion vector predictor candidate list as a motion vector predictor candidate in step S132. Determine whether or not. If the determination result in step S132 is true (Yes in S132), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 assigns the value of the motion vector predictor index to the new candidate in step S133, and the new motion vector candidate list is new. Add candidates. Furthermore, in step S134, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 114 adds 1 to the number of motion vector predictor candidates. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S131 or step S132 is false (No in S131 or S132), the new candidate addition process is terminated. That is, when the number of motion vector predictor candidates reaches the number of predictable candidates, or when there is no new candidate, the new candidate addition process is terminated.

Note that step S103 in FIG. 28 is the same as the process shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the video encoding device 100a according to the present embodiment, the predicted motion vector candidate list size used when encoding or decoding the predicted motion vector index is referred to including a co-located block or the like. It can be calculated by a method that does not depend on picture information. As a result, the moving picture coding apparatus 100a can improve error tolerance. More specifically, the moving picture coding apparatus 100a according to the present embodiment can always predict a predictable candidate if the predicted block candidate is a co-located block, regardless of whether the co-located block is a predictable candidate. Add 1 to the number. Then, the video encoding device 100a determines a bit string to be assigned to the predicted motion vector index using the number of predictable candidates calculated in this way. Thereby, the moving picture coding apparatus 100a can generate a bitstream that can normally decode the predicted motion vector index even when reference picture information including a co-located block is lost. In addition, when the number of motion vector predictor candidates does not reach the number of predictable candidates, the moving image coding apparatus 100a according to the present embodiment uses a new candidate having a new motion vector predictor as a motion vector predictor candidate. By adding, encoding efficiency can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the moving picture coding apparatus 100a always adds 1 if the predicted block candidate is a co-located block, regardless of whether the co-located block is a predictable candidate. Although the bit string assigned to the motion vector predictor index is determined using the calculated number of predictable candidates, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the moving image coding apparatus 100a uses the number of predictable candidates calculated by always adding 1 to the prediction block candidates other than the co-located block in step S124 in FIG. A bit string to be assigned to the motion vector predictor index may be determined. That is, the video encoding device 100a may assign a bit string to a motion vector predictor index using a motion vector predictor candidate list size that is fixed to the maximum number N of motion vector predictor candidates. That is, the video encoding apparatus 100a regards all prediction block candidates as predictable candidates, fixes the motion vector predictor candidate list size to the maximum number N of motion vector predictor candidates, and codes the motion vector predictor index. It does not matter.

For example, in the present embodiment, since the maximum value N of the number of motion vector predictor candidates is 5 (adjacent block A, adjacent block B, co-located block, adjacent block C, adjacent block D), the moving picture coding apparatus 100a may always set the predicted motion vector candidate list size to 5 and encode the predicted motion vector index. For example, when the maximum value N of the number of motion vector predictor candidates is 4 (adjacent block A, adjoining block B, adjoining block C, adjoining block D), the moving picture encoding device 100a always uses the motion vector predictor candidate. The list size may be set to 4, and the motion vector predictor index may be encoded.

As described above, the video encoding device 100a may determine the motion vector predictor candidate list size according to the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates. As a result, the variable length decoding unit of the video decoding device generates a bitstream that can decode the predicted motion vector index in the bitstream without referring to the information of the adjacent block or the co-located block. Thus, the processing amount of the variable length decoding unit can be reduced.

Further, the maximum value N of the number of motion vector predictor candidates may be embedded in an SPS (Sequence Parameter Set), a PPS (Picture Parameter Set), or a slice header. Thus, the maximum value N of the number of motion vector predictor candidates can be switched according to the encoding target picture, and the processing amount and encoding efficiency can be improved. For example, in the case of a picture that does not refer to a co-located block (B picture or P picture that refers to an I picture), the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates is 4 (adjacent block A, adjacent block B, adjacent block). C, adjacent block D). On the other hand, in the case of a picture that refers to a co-located block, the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates is set to 5 (adjacent block A, adjacent block B, co-located block, adjacent block C, adjacent block D). Set. Then, the maximum value may be embedded in SPS (Sequence Parameter Set), PPS (Picture Parameter Set), or a slice header.

In the present embodiment, an example using a prediction motion vector designation mode in which a motion vector predictor candidate is generated from an adjacent block of an encoding target block and a motion vector of the encoding target block is encoded has been shown. It is not necessarily limited to this. For example, by selecting a predicted motion vector from predicted motion vector candidates created as shown in FIGS. 29B and 30B, and directly generating a predicted image using the selected predicted motion vector as a motion vector, The difference motion vector may not be added to the bitstream (direct mode, skip mode, etc.).

As described above, in the moving picture coding method according to the present embodiment, the predetermined number of adjacent block candidate candidates, which are adjacent blocks that can be used for calculation of the predicted motion vector, among the at least one adjacent block. In the candidate number calculation step, the candidate number is calculated by performing an update step for updating the candidate number for each adjacent block. Here, the update step includes: (i) a block that is encoded by intra prediction, (ii) a block that is located outside a boundary of a slice or picture including the encoding target block, and (iii) ) If the determination result in the first determination step (S121) for determining whether the block is not yet encoded is true and the determination result in the first determination step is true, the prediction motion vector is calculated. A determination step (S122, S123) for determining that the adjacent block cannot be used and, if the determination result is false, determining that the adjacent block can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector; Whether or not it is determined that the adjacent block can be used to calculate the predicted motion vector Alternatively, if the determination result in the second determination step (S124) for determining whether or not the adjacent block is a temporally adjacent block and the determination result in the second determination step is true, the number of candidates is 1 Adding step (S125).

(Embodiment 4)
In the present embodiment, a method for deriving the predicted motion vector candidate list size used in the second embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a according to the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 34, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a includes a variable length decoding unit 301, an inverse quantization unit 302, an inverse orthogonal transform unit 303, an addition unit 304, a block memory 305, a frame memory 306, and an intra prediction unit 307. , An inter prediction unit 308, an inter prediction control unit 309, a switch 310, a motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311, and a colPic memory 312.

The variable length decoding unit 301 performs variable length decoding processing on the input bitstream to generate picture type information, a prediction direction flag, a quantization coefficient, and a difference motion vector. In addition, the variable length decoding unit 301 performs a variable length decoding process of the motion vector predictor index using the number of predictable candidates described later.

The predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 311 uses the colPic information such as the motion vector of the adjacent block of the decoding target block and the motion vector of the co-located block stored in the colPic memory 312 to specify the predicted motion vector. The mode predicted motion vector candidates are derived by the method described later. Also, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 311 assigns a value of the predicted motion vector index to each derived predicted motion vector candidate. Then, the predicted motion vector candidate calculation unit 311 sends the predicted motion vector candidate and the predicted motion vector index to the inter prediction control unit 309.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a according to the fourth embodiment.

In step S301, the variable length decoding unit 301 decodes the prediction direction flag and the reference picture index. Then, the value of the prediction direction X is determined according to the decoded prediction direction flag, and the following processing from step S302 to step S305 is performed.

In step S302, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 calculates the number of predictable candidates by the method described in

Embodiment

1 or 2, or the method described later. Then, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 sets the calculated number of predictable candidates as the motion vector predictor candidate list size.

In step S303, the variable length decoding unit 301 performs variable length decoding on the motion vector predictor index in the bitstream using the calculated motion vector predictor candidate list size. In step S304, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 generates a motion vector predictor candidate from a block adjacent to the decoding target block and the co-located block by a method described later. In step S305, the inter prediction control unit 309 adds the decoded differential motion vector to the predicted motion vector candidate indicated by the decoded predicted motion vector index, and calculates a motion vector. Then, the inter prediction control unit 309 causes the inter prediction unit 308 to generate an inter prediction image using the calculated motion vector.

In addition, when the motion vector predictor candidate list size calculated in step S302 is “1”, the motion vector predictor index may be estimated as 0 without being decoded.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S302 of FIG. Specifically, FIG. 36 illustrates a method for determining whether the prediction block candidate [N] is predictable and calculating the number of predictable candidates. Hereinafter, FIG. 36 will be described.

In step S311, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 determines that the predicted block candidate [N] is (1) a block decoded by intra prediction, or (2) outside a slice or picture boundary including a decoding target block. It is determined whether the block is located or (3) a block that has not been decoded yet. If the determination result in step S311 is true (Yes in S311), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 sets the prediction block candidate [N] as an unpredictable candidate in step S312. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S311 is false (No in S311), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 sets the prediction block candidate [N] as a predictable candidate in step S313.

In step S314, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 determines whether the prediction block candidate [N] is a predictable candidate or a co-located block candidate. If the determination result in step S314 is true (Yes in S314), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 adds 1 to the number of predictable candidates and updates the value in step S315. On the other hand, if step S314 is false (No in S314), the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 does not update the number of predictable candidates.

As described above, when the prediction block candidate is a co-located block, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 determines the number of predictable candidates regardless of whether the co-located block is a predictable candidate or a non-predictable candidate. Add one. Thereby, even when the information of the co-located block is lost due to packet loss or the like, there is no mismatch in the number of predictable candidates between the moving picture coding apparatus and the moving picture decoding apparatus. The number of predictable candidates is set to the predicted motion vector candidate list size in step S302 of FIG. Furthermore, in step S303 of FIG. 35, the motion vector predictor candidate list size is used for variable length decoding of the motion vector predictor index. As a result, even when reference picture information including a co-located block or the like is lost, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a can normally decode the predicted motion vector index.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step S304 of FIG. Specifically, FIG. 37 shows a method for calculating a motion vector predictor candidate. Hereinafter, FIG. 37 will be described.

In step S321, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 calculates a motion vector predictor candidate in the prediction direction X from the prediction block candidate [N] using the

above formulas

1 and 2, and the motion vector predictor candidate list. Add to In step S322, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 searches the motion vector predictor candidate list for unpredictable candidates and duplicate candidates and deletes them. In step S323, the motion vector predictor candidate calculation unit 311 adds a new candidate to the motion vector predictor candidate list in the same manner as in FIG.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax for attaching a motion vector predictor index to a bitstream. In FIG. 38, inter_pred_flag represents a prediction direction flag, and mvp_idx represents a prediction motion vector index. NumMVPCand represents the predicted motion vector candidate list size, and in this embodiment, the number of predictable candidates calculated in the processing flow of FIG. 36 is set.

As described above, according to the video decoding device 300a according to the present embodiment, the predicted motion vector candidate list size used when encoding or decoding the predicted motion vector index is referred to including a co-located block or the like. It is calculated by a method that does not depend on picture information. Thereby, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a can appropriately decode the bit stream with improved error tolerance.

More specifically, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a according to the present embodiment can always predict a predictable candidate if the predicted block candidate is a co-located block regardless of whether the co-located block is a predictable candidate. Add 1 to the number. Then, the video decoding device 300a determines a bit string to be assigned to the motion vector predictor index using the number of predictable candidates calculated in this way. Accordingly, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a can normally decode the predicted motion vector index even when the reference picture information including the co-located block is lost. In addition, when the number of motion vector predictor candidates does not reach the number of predictable candidates, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a according to the present embodiment uses a new candidate having a new motion vector predictor as a motion vector predictor candidate. By adding, it becomes possible to appropriately decode a bit stream with improved encoding efficiency.

Note that the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a according to the present embodiment always adds 1 if the predicted block candidate is a co-located block, regardless of whether the co-located block is a predictable candidate. Although the bit string assigned to the motion vector predictor index is determined using the calculated number of predictable candidates, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a uses the number of predictable candidates calculated by always adding 1 to the prediction block candidates other than the co-located block in step S314 of FIG. A bit string to be assigned to the motion vector predictor index may be determined.

That is, the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a may assign a bit string to a motion vector predictor index using a motion vector predictor candidate list size fixed to the maximum number N of motion vector predictor candidates. That is, the video decoding device 300a regards all prediction block candidates as predictable candidates, fixes the prediction motion vector candidate list size to the maximum value N of the number of prediction motion vector candidates, and decodes the prediction motion vector index. It does not matter.

For example, in the present embodiment, since the maximum value N of the number of motion vector predictor candidates is 5 (adjacent block A, adjacent block B, co-located block, adjacent block C, adjacent block D), the moving picture decoding apparatus 300a may always set the predicted motion vector candidate list size to 5 and decode the predicted motion vector index. As a result, the variable length decoding unit 301 of the video decoding device 300a can decode the predicted motion vector index in the bitstream without referring to the information of the adjacent block or the co-located block. . As a result, for example, the processing of steps S314 and S315 in FIG. 36 can be omitted, and the processing amount of the variable length decoding unit 301 can be reduced.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating an example of syntax when the motion vector predictor candidate list size is fixed to the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates. As shown in FIG. 39, when the predicted motion vector candidate list size is fixed to the maximum number of predicted motion vector candidates, NumMVPCand can be deleted from the syntax.

Also, the maximum value N of the number of motion vector predictor candidates may be used as a value embedded in an SPS (Sequence Parameter Set), PPS (Picture Parameter Set), or a slice header. Accordingly, by switching the maximum value N of the number of motion vector predictor candidates according to the encoding target picture, it is possible to correctly decode a bitstream with improved processing amount and encoding efficiency. For example, in the case of a picture that does not refer to a co-located block (B picture or P picture that refers to an I picture), the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates is 4 (adjacent block A, adjacent block B, adjacent block) C, adjacent block D). On the other hand, in the case of a picture that refers to a co-located block, the maximum number of motion vector predictor candidates is 5 (adjacent block A, adjacent block B, co-located block, adjacent block C, adjacent block D). Is set. When the maximum value is SPS (Sequence Parameter Set), PPS (Picture Parameter Set), or a bit stream embedded in a slice header or the like, the maximum value N of the number of motion vector predictor candidates is set to SPS. (Sequence Parameter Set), PPS (Picture Parameter Set), or a slice header or the like may be decoded, and the predicted motion vector index may be decoded using the value.

Thus, in the moving picture decoding method according to the present embodiment, the predetermined number of adjacent block candidates that are adjacent blocks that can be used for calculation of the predicted motion vector among the at least one adjacent block is determined as the predetermined number. A candidate number calculating step (S302) that is calculated as a value. In the candidate number calculating step, the number of candidates is calculated by performing an updating step for updating the candidate number for each adjacent block. Here, the update step includes: (i) a block encoded by intra prediction, (ii) a block located outside the boundary of a slice or picture including the decoding target block, and (iii) ) If the determination result in the first determination step (S311) for determining whether the block is not yet decoded is true and the determination result in the first determination step is true, the prediction motion vector is calculated. A determination step (S312 and S313) for determining that the adjacent block cannot be used, and determining that the adjacent block can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector if the determination result is false; Whether or not it is determined that the adjacent block can be used to calculate the predicted motion vector Alternatively, if the determination result in the second determination step (S314) for determining whether or not the adjacent block is a temporally adjacent block and the determination result in the second determination step is true, the number of candidates is 1 Adding step (S315).

As mentioned above, although the moving image encoding device and the moving image decoding device according to one or more aspects have been described based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Unless it deviates from the gist of the present invention, various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art have been made in this embodiment, and forms constructed by combining components in different embodiments are also within the scope of one or more aspects. May be included.

(Embodiment 5)
By recording a program for realizing the configuration of the moving image encoding method (image encoding method) or the moving image decoding method (image decoding method) shown in each of the above embodiments on a storage medium, each of the above embodiments It is possible to easily execute the processing shown in the form in the independent computer system. The storage medium may be any medium that can record a program, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, and a semiconductor memory.

Furthermore, application examples of the moving picture coding method (picture coding method) and the moving picture decoding method (picture decoding method) shown in the above embodiments and a system using the same will be described. The system has an image encoding / decoding device including an image encoding device using an image encoding method and an image decoding device using an image decoding method. Other configurations in the system can be appropriately changed according to circumstances.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a content supply system ex100 that realizes a content distribution service. The communication service providing area is divided into desired sizes, and base stations ex106, ex107, ex108, ex109, and ex110, which are fixed wireless stations, are installed in each cell.

The content supply system ex100 includes a computer ex111, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) ex112, a camera ex113, a mobile phone ex114, a game machine ex115 via the Internet ex101, the Internet service provider ex102, the telephone network ex104, and the base stations ex106 to ex110. Etc. are connected.

However, the content supply system ex100 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 40, and any element may be combined and connected. In addition, each device may be directly connected to the telephone network ex104 without going through the base stations ex106 to ex110 which are fixed wireless stations. In addition, the devices may be directly connected to each other via short-range wireless or the like.

The camera ex113 is a device that can shoot moving images such as a digital video camera, and the camera ex116 is a device that can shoot still images and movies such as a digital camera. In addition, the mobile phone ex114 is a GSM (registered trademark) (Global System for Mobile Communications) method, a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) method, a W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division MultipleL), or a W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division MultipleT method). It may be a system, HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) mobile phone, PHS (Personal Handyphone System), or the like.

In the content supply system ex100, the camera ex113 and the like are connected to the streaming server ex103 through the base station ex109 and the telephone network ex104, thereby enabling live distribution and the like. In live distribution, content that is shot by the user using the camera ex113 (for example, music live video) is encoded as described in the above embodiments (that is, the image encoding of the present invention). Function as a device) and transmit to the streaming server ex103. On the other hand, the streaming server ex103 streams the content data transmitted to the requested client. Examples of the client include a computer ex111, a PDA ex112, a camera ex113, a mobile phone ex114, a game machine ex115, and the like that can decode the encoded data. Each device that receives the distributed data decodes the received data and reproduces it (that is, functions as the image decoding device of the present invention).

Note that the encoded processing of the captured data may be performed by the camera ex113, the streaming server ex103 that performs the data transmission processing, or may be performed in a shared manner. Similarly, the decryption processing of the distributed data may be performed by the client, the streaming server ex103, or may be performed in a shared manner. In addition to the camera ex113, still images and / or moving image data captured by the camera ex116 may be transmitted to the streaming server ex103 via the computer ex111. The encoding process in this case may be performed by any of the camera ex116, the computer ex111, and the streaming server ex103, or may be performed in a shared manner.

These encoding / decoding processes are generally performed by the computer ex111 and the LSI ex500 included in each device. The LSI ex500 may be configured as a single chip or a plurality of chips. It should be noted that moving image encoding / decoding software is incorporated into some recording media (CD-ROM, flexible disk, hard disk, etc.) that can be read by the computer ex111 and the like, and encoding / decoding processing is performed using the software. May be. Furthermore, when the mobile phone ex114 is equipped with a camera, moving image data acquired by the camera may be transmitted. The moving image data at this time is data encoded by the LSI ex500 included in the mobile phone ex114.

Also, the streaming server ex103 may be a plurality of servers or a plurality of computers, and may process, record, and distribute data in a distributed manner.

As described above, in the content supply system ex100, the encoded data can be received and reproduced by the client. In this way, in the content supply system ex100, the information transmitted by the user can be received, decrypted and reproduced by the client in real time, and even a user who does not have special rights or facilities can realize personal broadcasting.

In addition to the example of the content supply system ex100, as shown in FIG. 41, the digital broadcast system ex200 also includes at least the moving image encoding device (image encoding device) or the moving image decoding according to each of the above embodiments. Any of the devices (image decoding devices) can be incorporated. Specifically, in the broadcast station ex201, multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing music data and the like on video data is transmitted to a communication or satellite ex202 via radio waves. This video data is data encoded by the moving image encoding method described in the above embodiments (that is, data encoded by the image encoding apparatus of the present invention). Receiving this, the broadcasting satellite ex202 transmits a radio wave for broadcasting, and the home antenna ex204 capable of receiving the satellite broadcast receives the radio wave. The received multiplexed data is decoded and reproduced by an apparatus such as the television (receiver) ex300 or the set top box (STB) ex217 (that is, functions as the image decoding apparatus of the present invention).

Also, a reader / recorder ex218 that reads and decodes multiplexed data recorded on a recording medium ex215 such as a DVD or a BD, or encodes a video signal on the recording medium ex215 and, in some cases, multiplexes and writes it with a music signal. It is possible to mount the moving picture decoding apparatus or moving picture encoding apparatus described in the above embodiments. In this case, the reproduced video signal is displayed on the monitor ex219, and the video signal can be reproduced in another device or system by the recording medium ex215 on which the multiplexed data is recorded. Further, a moving picture decoding apparatus may be mounted in a set-top box ex217 connected to a cable ex203 for cable television or an antenna ex204 for satellite / terrestrial broadcasting and displayed on the monitor ex219 of the television. At this time, the moving picture decoding apparatus may be incorporated in the television instead of the set top box.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a television (receiver) ex300 that uses the video decoding method and the video encoding method described in each of the above embodiments. The television ex300 obtains or outputs multiplexed data in which audio data is multiplexed with video data via the antenna ex204 or the cable ex203 that receives the broadcast, and demodulates the received multiplexed data. Alternatively, the modulation / demodulation unit ex302 that modulates multiplexed data to be transmitted to the outside, and the demodulated multiplexed data is separated into video data and audio data, or the video data and audio data encoded by the signal processing unit ex306 Is provided with a multiplexing / separating unit ex303.

Further, the television ex300 decodes each of the audio data and the video data, or encodes the respective information. The audio signal processing unit ex304 and the video signal processing unit ex305 (function as the image encoding device or the image decoding device of the present invention). A signal processing unit ex306 including a speaker ex307 that outputs a decoded audio signal, and an output unit ex309 including a display unit ex308 such as a display that displays the decoded video signal. Furthermore, the television ex300 includes an interface unit ex317 including an operation input unit ex312 that receives an input of a user operation. Furthermore, the television ex300 includes a control unit ex310 that controls each unit in an integrated manner, and a power supply circuit unit ex311 that supplies power to each unit. In addition to the operation input unit ex312, the interface unit ex317 includes a bridge ex313 connected to an external device such as a reader / recorder ex218, a recording unit ex216 such as an SD card, and an external recording such as a hard disk. A driver ex315 for connecting to a medium, a modem ex316 for connecting to a telephone network, and the like may be included. The recording medium ex216 is capable of electrically recording information by using a nonvolatile / volatile semiconductor memory element to be stored. Each part of the television ex300 is connected to each other via a synchronous bus.

First, a configuration in which the television ex300 decodes and reproduces multiplexed data acquired from the outside by the antenna ex204 or the like will be described. The television ex300 receives a user operation from the remote controller ex220 or the like, and demultiplexes the multiplexed data demodulated by the modulation / demodulation unit ex302 by the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit ex303 based on the control of the control unit ex310 having a CPU or the like. Furthermore, in the television ex300, the separated audio data is decoded by the audio signal processing unit ex304, and the separated video data is decoded by the video signal processing unit ex305 using the decoding method described in the above embodiments. The decoded audio signal and video signal are output from the output unit ex309 to the outside. When outputting, these signals may be temporarily stored in the buffers ex318, ex319, etc. so that the audio signal and the video signal are reproduced in synchronization. Also, the television ex300 may read multiplexed data from recording media ex215 and ex216 such as a magnetic / optical disk and an SD card, not from broadcasting. Next, a configuration in which the television ex300 encodes an audio signal or a video signal and transmits the signal to the outside or writes it to a recording medium will be described. The television ex300 receives a user operation from the remote controller ex220 or the like, and encodes an audio signal with the audio signal processing unit ex304 based on the control of the control unit ex310, and converts the video signal with the video signal processing unit ex305. Encoding is performed using the encoding method described in (1). The encoded audio signal and video signal are multiplexed by the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit ex303 and output to the outside. When multiplexing, these signals may be temporarily stored in the buffers ex320 and ex321 so that the audio signal and the video signal are synchronized. Note that a plurality of buffers ex318, ex319, ex320, and ex321 may be provided as illustrated, or one or more buffers may be shared. Further, in addition to the illustrated example, data may be stored in the buffer as a buffer material that prevents system overflow and underflow, for example, between the modulation / demodulation unit ex302 and the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit ex303.

In addition to acquiring audio data and video data from broadcasts, recording media, and the like, the television ex300 has a configuration for receiving AV input of a microphone and a camera, and performs encoding processing on the data acquired from them. Also good. Here, the television ex300 has been described as a configuration that can perform the above-described encoding processing, multiplexing, and external output, but these processing cannot be performed, and only the above-described reception, decoding processing, and external output are possible. It may be a configuration.

When reading or writing multiplexed data from a recording medium by the reader / recorder ex218, the decoding process or the encoding process may be performed by either the television ex300 or the reader / recorder ex218. The reader / recorder ex218 may be shared with each other.

As an example, FIG. 43 shows a configuration of the information reproducing / recording unit ex400 when data is read from or written to the optical disk. The information reproducing / recording unit ex400 includes elements ex401, ex402, ex403, ex404, ex405, ex406, and ex407 described below. The optical head ex401 irradiates a laser spot on the recording surface of the recording medium ex215 that is an optical disc to write information, and detects information reflected from the recording surface of the recording medium ex215 to read the information. The modulation recording unit ex402 electrically drives a semiconductor laser built in the optical head ex401 and modulates the laser beam according to the recording data. The reproduction demodulator ex403 amplifies the reproduction signal obtained by electrically detecting the reflected light from the recording surface by the photodetector built in the optical head ex401, separates and demodulates the signal component recorded on the recording medium ex215, and is necessary. To play back information. The buffer ex404 temporarily holds information to be recorded on the recording medium ex215 and information reproduced from the recording medium ex215. The disk motor ex405 rotates the recording medium ex215. The servo control unit ex406 moves the optical head ex401 to a predetermined information track while controlling the rotational drive of the disk motor ex405, and performs a laser spot tracking process. The system control unit ex407 controls the entire information reproduction / recording unit ex400. In the reading and writing processes described above, the system control unit ex407 uses various kinds of information held in the buffer ex404, and generates and adds new information as necessary, as well as the modulation recording unit ex402, the reproduction demodulation unit This is realized by recording / reproducing information through the optical head ex401 while operating the ex403 and the servo control unit ex406 in a coordinated manner. The system control unit ex407 is composed of, for example, a microprocessor, and executes these processes by executing a read / write program.

In the above, the optical head ex401 has been described as irradiating a laser spot, but it may be configured to perform higher-density recording using near-field light.

FIG. 44 shows a schematic diagram of a recording medium ex215 that is an optical disk. Guide grooves (grooves) are formed in a spiral shape on the recording surface of the recording medium ex215, and address information indicating the absolute position on the disc is recorded in advance on the information track ex230 by changing the shape of the groove. This address information includes information for specifying the position of the recording block ex231 that is a unit for recording data, and the recording block is specified by reproducing the information track ex230 and reading the address information in a recording or reproducing apparatus. Can do. Further, the recording medium ex215 includes a data recording area ex233, an inner peripheral area ex232, and an outer peripheral area ex234. The area used for recording the user data is the data recording area ex233, and the inner circumference area ex232 and the outer circumference area ex234 arranged on the inner circumference or outer circumference of the data recording area ex233 are used for specific purposes other than user data recording. Used. The information reproducing / recording unit ex400 reads / writes encoded audio data, video data, or multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing these data with respect to the data recording area ex233 of the recording medium ex215.

In the above description, an optical disk such as a single-layer DVD or BD has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and an optical disk having a multilayer structure and capable of recording other than the surface may be used. Also, an optical disc with a multi-dimensional recording / reproducing structure, such as recording information using light of different wavelengths in the same place on the disc, or recording different layers of information from various angles. It may be.

Also, in the digital broadcasting system ex200, the car ex210 having the antenna ex205 can receive data from the satellite ex202 and the like, and the moving image can be reproduced on a display device such as the car navigation ex211 that the car ex210 has. For example, the configuration of the car navigation ex211 may include a configuration including a GPS receiving unit in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 42, and the same may be applied to the computer ex111, the mobile phone ex114, and the like.

FIG. 45A is a diagram showing the mobile phone ex114 using the video decoding method and the video encoding method described in the above embodiment. The mobile phone ex114 includes an antenna ex350 for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from the base station ex110, a camera unit ex365 capable of taking video and still images, a video captured by the camera unit ex365, a video received by the antenna ex350, and the like Is provided with a display unit ex358 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying the decrypted data. The mobile phone ex114 further includes a main body unit having an operation key unit ex366, an audio output unit ex357 such as a speaker for outputting audio, an audio input unit ex356 such as a microphone for inputting audio, In the memory unit ex367 for storing encoded data or decoded data such as still images, recorded audio, received video, still images, mails, or the like, or an interface unit with a recording medium for storing data A slot portion ex364 is provided.

Furthermore, a configuration example of the mobile phone ex114 will be described with reference to FIG. 45B. The cellular phone ex114 has a power supply circuit ex361, an operation input control unit ex362, and a video signal processing unit ex355 for a main control unit ex360 that comprehensively controls each part of the main body including the display unit ex358 and the operation key unit ex366. , A camera interface unit ex363, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) control unit ex359, a modulation / demodulation unit ex352, a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit ex353, an audio signal processing unit ex354, a slot unit ex364, and a memory unit ex367 are connected to each other via a bus ex370. ing.

When the end of call and the power key are turned on by a user operation, the power supply circuit unit ex361 starts up the mobile phone ex114 in an operable state by supplying power from the battery pack to each unit.

The mobile phone ex114 converts the audio signal collected by the audio input unit ex356 in the voice call mode into a digital audio signal by the audio signal processing unit ex354 based on the control of the main control unit ex360 having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. This is subjected to spectrum spread processing by the modulation / demodulation unit ex352, digital-analog conversion processing and frequency conversion processing by the transmission / reception unit ex351, and then transmitted via the antenna ex350. Further, the mobile phone ex114 amplifies the received data received through the antenna ex350 in the voice call mode, performs frequency conversion processing and analog-digital conversion processing, performs spectrum despreading processing in the modulation / demodulation unit ex352, and performs voice signal processing unit After converting to an analog audio signal at ex354, this is output from the audio output unit ex357.

Further, when an e-mail is transmitted in the data communication mode, the text data of the e-mail input by operating the operation key unit ex366 of the main unit is sent to the main control unit ex360 via the operation input control unit ex362. The main control unit ex360 performs spread spectrum processing on the text data in the modulation / demodulation unit ex352, performs digital analog conversion processing and frequency conversion processing in the transmission / reception unit ex351, and then transmits the text data to the base station ex110 via the antenna ex350. . When receiving an e-mail, almost the reverse process is performed on the received data and output to the display unit ex358.

When transmitting video, still image, or video and audio in the data communication mode, the video signal processing unit ex355 compresses the video signal supplied from the camera unit ex365 by the moving image encoding method described in the above embodiments. Encode (that is, function as an image encoding apparatus of the present invention), and send the encoded video data to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit ex353. The audio signal processing unit ex354 encodes the audio signal picked up by the audio input unit ex356 while the camera unit ex365 images a video, a still image, and the like, and sends the encoded audio data to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit ex353. To do.

The multiplexing / demultiplexing unit ex353 multiplexes the encoded video data supplied from the video signal processing unit ex355 and the encoded audio data supplied from the audio signal processing unit ex354 by a predetermined method, and is obtained as a result. The multiplexed data is subjected to spread spectrum processing by the modulation / demodulation unit (modulation / demodulation circuit unit) ex352, digital-analog conversion processing and frequency conversion processing by the transmission / reception unit ex351, and then transmitted through the antenna ex350.

Decode multiplexed data received via antenna ex350 when receiving video file data linked to a homepage, etc. in data communication mode, or when receiving e-mail with video and / or audio attached Therefore, the multiplexing / separating unit ex353 separates the multiplexed data into a video data bit stream and an audio data bit stream, and performs video signal processing on the video data encoded via the synchronization bus ex370. The encoded audio data is supplied to the audio signal processing unit ex354 while being supplied to the unit ex355. The video signal processing unit ex355 decodes the video signal by decoding using the video decoding method corresponding to the video encoding method shown in each of the above embodiments (that is, functions as the image decoding device of the present invention). For example, video and still images included in the moving image file linked to the home page are displayed from the display unit ex358 via the LCD control unit ex359. The audio signal processing unit ex354 decodes the audio signal, and the audio output unit ex357 outputs the audio.

In addition to the transmission / reception terminal having both the encoder and the decoder, the terminal such as the mobile phone ex114 is referred to as a transmitting terminal having only an encoder and a receiving terminal having only a decoder. There are three possible mounting formats. Furthermore, in the digital broadcasting system ex200, it has been described that multiplexed data in which music data or the like is multiplexed with video data is received and transmitted. However, in addition to audio data, data in which character data or the like related to video is multiplexed is also described. It may be video data itself instead of multiplexed data.

As described above, the moving picture encoding method or the moving picture decoding method shown in each of the above embodiments can be used in any of the above-described devices / systems. The described effect can be obtained.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 6)
The moving picture coding method or apparatus shown in the above embodiments and the moving picture coding method or apparatus compliant with different standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, and VC-1 are appropriately switched as necessary. Thus, it is also possible to generate video data.

Here, when a plurality of pieces of video data conforming to different standards are generated, it is necessary to select a decoding method corresponding to each standard when decoding. However, since it is impossible to identify which standard the video data to be decoded complies with, there arises a problem that an appropriate decoding method cannot be selected.

In order to solve this problem, multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audio data or the like with video data is configured to include identification information indicating which standard the video data conforms to. A specific configuration of multiplexed data including video data generated by the moving picture encoding method or apparatus shown in the above embodiments will be described below. The multiplexed data is a digital stream in the MPEG-2 transport stream format.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a structure of multiplexed data. As shown in FIG. 46, the multiplexed data is obtained by multiplexing one or more of a video stream, an audio stream, a presentation graphics stream (PG), and an interactive graphics stream. The video stream indicates the main video and sub-video of the movie, the audio stream (IG) indicates the main audio portion of the movie and the sub-audio mixed with the main audio, and the presentation graphics stream indicates the subtitles of the movie. Here, the main video indicates a normal video displayed on the screen, and the sub-video is a video displayed on a small screen in the main video. The interactive graphics stream indicates an interactive screen created by arranging GUI components on the screen. The video stream is encoded by the moving image encoding method or apparatus shown in the above embodiments, or the moving image encoding method or apparatus conforming to the conventional standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, and VC-1. ing. The audio stream is encoded by a method such as Dolby AC-3, Dolby Digital Plus, MLP, DTS, DTS-HD, or linear PCM.

Each stream included in the multiplexed data is identified by PID. For example, 0x1011 for video streams used for movie images, 0x1100 to 0x111F for audio streams, 0x1200 to 0x121F for presentation graphics, 0x1400 to 0x141F for interactive graphics streams, 0x1B00 to 0x1B1F are assigned to the video stream used for the sub-picture, and 0x1A00 to 0x1A1F are assigned to the audio stream used for the sub-audio mixed with the main audio.

FIG. 47 is a diagram schematically showing how multiplexed data is multiplexed. First, a video stream ex235 composed of a plurality of video frames and an audio stream ex238 composed of a plurality of audio frames are converted into PES packet sequences ex236 and ex239, respectively, and converted into TS packets ex237 and ex240. Similarly, the data of the presentation graphics stream ex241 and interactive graphics ex244 are converted into PES packet sequences ex242 and ex245, respectively, and further converted into TS packets ex243 and ex246. The multiplexed data ex247 is configured by multiplexing these TS packets into one stream.

FIG. 48 shows in more detail how the video stream is stored in the PES packet sequence. The first row in FIG. 48 shows a video frame sequence of the video stream. The second level shows a PES packet sequence. As shown by arrows yy1, yy2, yy3, and yy4 in FIG. 48, a plurality of Video Presentation Units in the video stream are divided into pictures, B pictures, and P pictures, and are stored in the payload of the PES packet. . Each PES packet has a PES header, and a PTS (Presentation Time-Stamp) that is a display time of a picture and a DTS (Decoding Time-Stamp) that is a decoding time of a picture are stored in the PES header.

FIG. 49 shows the format of TS packets that are finally written in the multiplexed data. The TS packet is a 188-byte fixed-length packet composed of a 4-byte TS header having information such as a PID for identifying a stream and a 184-byte TS payload for storing data. The PES packet is divided and stored in the TS payload. The In the case of a BD-ROM, a 4-byte TP_Extra_Header is added to a TS packet, forms a 192-byte source packet, and is written in multiplexed data. In TP_Extra_Header, information such as ATS (Arrival_Time_Stamp) is described. ATS indicates the transfer start time of the TS packet to the PID filter of the decoder. Source packets are arranged in the multiplexed data as shown in the lower part of FIG. 49, and the number incremented from the head of the multiplexed data is called SPN (source packet number).

In addition, TS packets included in the multiplexed data include PAT (Program Association Table), PMT (Program Map Table), PCR (Program Clock Reference), and the like in addition to each stream such as video / audio / caption. PAT indicates what the PID of the PMT used in the multiplexed data is, and the PID of the PAT itself is registered as 0. The PMT has the PID of each stream such as video / audio / subtitles included in the multiplexed data and the attribute information of the stream corresponding to each PID, and has various descriptors related to the multiplexed data. The descriptor includes copy control information for instructing permission / non-permission of copying of multiplexed data. In order to synchronize the ATC (Arrival Time Clock), which is the ATS time axis, and the STC (System Time Clock), which is the PTS / DTS time axis, the PCR corresponds to the ATS in which the PCR packet is transferred to the decoder. Contains STC time information.

FIG. 50 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of the PMT in detail. A PMT header describing the length of data included in the PMT is arranged at the head of the PMT. After that, a plurality of descriptors related to multiplexed data are arranged. The copy control information and the like are described as descriptors. After the descriptor, a plurality of pieces of stream information regarding each stream included in the multiplexed data are arranged. The stream information includes a stream descriptor in which a stream type, a stream PID, and stream attribute information (frame rate, aspect ratio, etc.) are described to identify a compression codec of the stream. There are as many stream descriptors as the number of streams existing in the multiplexed data.

When recording on a recording medium or the like, the multiplexed data is recorded together with the multiplexed data information file.

As shown in FIG. 51, the multiplexed data information file is management information of multiplexed data, has a one-to-one correspondence with the multiplexed data, and includes multiplexed data information, stream attribute information, and an entry map.

As shown in FIG. 51, the multiplexed data information includes a system rate, a reproduction start time, and a reproduction end time. The system rate indicates a maximum transfer rate of multiplexed data to a PID filter of a system target decoder described later. The ATS interval included in the multiplexed data is set to be equal to or less than the system rate. The playback start time is the PTS of the first video frame of the multiplexed data, and the playback end time is set by adding the playback interval for one frame to the PTS of the video frame at the end of the multiplexed data.

As shown in FIG. 52, in the stream attribute information, attribute information for each stream included in the multiplexed data is registered for each PID. The attribute information has different information for each video stream, audio stream, presentation graphics stream, and interactive graphics stream. The video stream attribute information includes the compression codec used to compress the video stream, the resolution of the individual picture data constituting the video stream, the aspect ratio, and the frame rate. It has information such as how much it is. The audio stream attribute information includes the compression codec used to compress the audio stream, the number of channels included in the audio stream, the language supported, and the sampling frequency. With information. These pieces of information are used for initialization of the decoder before the player reproduces it.

In this embodiment, among the multiplexed data, the stream type included in the PMT is used. Also, when multiplexed data is recorded on the recording medium, video stream attribute information included in the multiplexed data information is used. Specifically, in the video encoding method or apparatus shown in each of the above embodiments, the video encoding shown in each of the above embodiments for the stream type or video stream attribute information included in the PMT. There is provided a step or means for setting unique information indicating that the video data is generated by the method or apparatus. With this configuration, it is possible to discriminate between video data generated by the moving picture encoding method or apparatus described in the above embodiments and video data compliant with other standards.

FIG. 53 shows the steps of the moving picture decoding method according to the present embodiment. In step exS100, the stream type included in the PMT or the video stream attribute information included in the multiplexed data information is acquired from the multiplexed data. Next, in step exS101, it is determined whether or not the stream type or the video stream attribute information indicates multiplexed data generated by the moving picture encoding method or apparatus described in the above embodiments. To do. When it is determined that the stream type or the video stream attribute information is generated by the moving image encoding method or apparatus described in each of the above embodiments, in step exS102, each of the above embodiments. Decoding is performed by the moving picture decoding method shown in the form. If the stream type or the video stream attribute information indicates that it conforms to a standard such as conventional MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, VC-1, etc., in step exS103, the conventional information Decoding is performed by a moving image decoding method compliant with the standard.

In this way, by setting a new unique value in the stream type or video stream attribute information, whether or not decoding is possible with the moving picture decoding method or apparatus described in each of the above embodiments is performed. Judgment can be made. Therefore, even when multiplexed data conforming to different standards is input, an appropriate decoding method or apparatus can be selected, and therefore decoding can be performed without causing an error. In addition, the moving picture encoding method or apparatus or the moving picture decoding method or apparatus described in this embodiment can be used in any of the above-described devices and systems.

(Embodiment 7)
The moving picture encoding method and apparatus and moving picture decoding method and apparatus described in the above embodiments are typically realized by an LSI that is an integrated circuit. As an example, FIG. 54 shows a configuration of an LSI ex500 that is made into one chip. The LSI ex500 includes elements ex501, ex502, ex503, ex504, ex505, ex506, ex507, ex508, and ex509 described below, and each element is connected via a bus ex510. The power supply circuit unit ex505 starts up to an operable state by supplying power to each unit when the power supply is in an on state.

For example, when performing the encoding process, the LSI ex500 uses the AV I / O ex509 to perform the microphone ex117 and the camera ex113 based on the control of the control unit ex501 including the CPU ex502, the memory controller ex503, the stream controller ex504, the drive frequency control unit ex512, and the like. The AV signal is input from the above. The input AV signal is temporarily stored in an external memory ex511 such as SDRAM. Based on the control of the control unit ex501, the accumulated data is divided into a plurality of times as appropriate according to the processing amount and the processing speed and sent to the signal processing unit ex507, and the signal processing unit ex507 encodes an audio signal and / or video. Signal encoding is performed. Here, the encoding process of the video signal is the encoding process described in the above embodiments. The signal processing unit ex507 further performs processing such as multiplexing the encoded audio data and the encoded video data according to circumstances, and outputs the result from the stream I / Oex 506 to the outside. The output multiplexed data is transmitted to the base station ex107 or written to the recording medium ex215. It should be noted that data should be temporarily stored in the buffer ex508 so as to be synchronized when multiplexing.

In the above description, the memory ex511 has been described as an external configuration of the LSI ex500. However, a configuration included in the LSI ex500 may be used. The number of buffers ex508 is not limited to one, and a plurality of buffers may be provided. The LSI ex500 may be made into one chip or a plurality of chips.

In the above description, the control unit ex501 includes the CPU ex502, the memory controller ex503, the stream controller ex504, the drive frequency control unit ex512, and the like, but the configuration of the control unit ex501 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the signal processing unit ex507 may further include a CPU. By providing a CPU also in the signal processing unit ex507, the processing speed can be further improved. As another example, the CPU ex502 may be configured to include a signal processing unit ex507 or, for example, an audio signal processing unit that is a part of the signal processing unit ex507. In such a case, the control unit ex501 is configured to include a signal processing unit ex507 or a CPU ex502 having a part thereof.

In addition, although it was set as LSI here, it may be called IC, system LSI, super LSI, and ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration.

Further, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, and implementation with a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor is also possible. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after manufacturing the LSI or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used.

Furthermore, if integrated circuit technology that replaces LSI emerges as a result of advances in semiconductor technology or other derived technology, it is naturally also possible to integrate functional blocks using this technology. Biotechnology can be applied.

(Embodiment 8)
When decoding the video data generated by the moving picture encoding method or apparatus shown in the above embodiments, the video data conforming to the conventional standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, and VC-1 is decoded. It is conceivable that the amount of processing increases compared to the case. Therefore, in LSI ex500, it is necessary to set a driving frequency higher than the driving frequency of CPU ex502 when decoding video data compliant with the conventional standard. However, when the drive frequency is increased, there is a problem that power consumption increases.

In order to solve this problem, moving picture decoding apparatuses such as the television ex300 and the LSI ex500 are configured to identify which standard the video data conforms to and switch the driving frequency according to the standard. FIG. 55 shows a configuration ex800 in the present embodiment. The drive frequency switching unit ex803 sets the drive frequency high when the video data is generated by the moving image encoding method or apparatus described in the above embodiments. Then, the decoding processing unit ex801 that executes the moving picture decoding method described in each of the above embodiments is instructed to decode the video data. On the other hand, when the video data is video data compliant with the conventional standard, compared to the case where the video data is generated by the moving picture encoding method or apparatus shown in the above embodiments, Set the drive frequency low. Then, it instructs the decoding processing unit ex802 compliant with the conventional standard to decode the video data.

More specifically, the drive frequency switching unit ex803 includes the CPU ex502 and the drive frequency control unit ex512 in FIG. Further, the decoding processing unit ex801 that executes the moving picture decoding method shown in each of the above embodiments and the decoding processing unit ex802 that complies with the conventional standard correspond to the signal processing unit ex507 in FIG. The CPU ex502 identifies which standard the video data conforms to. Then, based on the signal from the CPU ex502, the drive frequency control unit ex512 sets the drive frequency. Further, based on the signal from the CPU ex502, the signal processing unit ex507 decodes the video data. Here, for identification of video data, for example, the identification information described in the sixth embodiment may be used. The identification information is not limited to that described in Embodiment 6, and any information that can identify which standard the video data conforms to may be used. For example, it is possible to identify which standard the video data conforms to based on an external signal that identifies whether the video data is used for a television or a disk. In some cases, identification may be performed based on such an external signal. In addition, the selection of the driving frequency in the CPU ex502 may be performed based on, for example, a look-up table in which video data standards and driving frequencies are associated with each other as shown in FIG. The look-up table is stored in the buffer ex508 or the internal memory of the LSI, and the CPU ex502 can select the drive frequency by referring to this look-up table.

FIG. 56 shows steps for executing the method of the present embodiment. First, in step exS200, the signal processing unit ex507 acquires identification information from the multiplexed data. Next, in step exS201, the CPU ex502 identifies whether the video data is generated by the encoding method or apparatus described in each of the above embodiments based on the identification information. When the video data is generated by the encoding method or apparatus shown in the above embodiments, in step exS202, the CPU ex502 sends a signal for setting the drive frequency high to the drive frequency control unit ex512. Then, the drive frequency control unit ex512 sets a high drive frequency. On the other hand, if it indicates that the video data conforms to the conventional standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, and VC-1, in step exS203, the CPU ex502 drives a signal for setting the drive frequency low. This is sent to the frequency control unit ex512. Then, in the drive frequency control unit ex512, the drive frequency is set to be lower than that in the case where the video data is generated by the encoding method or apparatus described in the above embodiments.

Furthermore, the power saving effect can be further enhanced by changing the voltage applied to the LSI ex500 or the device including the LSI ex500 in conjunction with the switching of the driving frequency. For example, when the drive frequency is set to be low, it is conceivable that the voltage applied to the LSI ex500 or the device including the LSI ex500 is set low as compared with the case where the drive frequency is set high.

In addition, the setting method of the driving frequency may be set to a high driving frequency when the processing amount at the time of decoding is large, and to a low driving frequency when the processing amount at the time of decoding is small. It is not limited to the method. For example, the amount of processing for decoding video data compliant with the MPEG4-AVC standard is larger than the amount of processing for decoding video data generated by the moving picture encoding method or apparatus described in the above embodiments. It is conceivable that the setting of the driving frequency is reversed to that in the case described above.

Furthermore, the method for setting the drive frequency is not limited to the configuration in which the drive frequency is lowered. For example, when the identification information indicates that the video data is generated by the moving picture encoding method or apparatus described in the above embodiments, the voltage applied to the LSI ex500 or the apparatus including the LSI ex500 is set high. However, when it is shown that the video data conforms to the conventional standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, VC-1, etc., it may be considered to set the voltage applied to the LSI ex500 or the device including the LSI ex500 low. It is done. As another example, when the identification information indicates that the video data is generated by the moving image encoding method or apparatus described in each of the above embodiments, the driving of the CPU ex502 is stopped. If the video data conforms to the standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, VC-1, etc., the CPU ex502 is temporarily stopped because there is enough processing. Is also possible. Even when the identification information indicates that the video data is generated by the moving image encoding method or apparatus described in each of the above embodiments, if there is enough processing, the CPU ex502 is temporarily driven. It can also be stopped. In this case, it is conceivable to set the stop time shorter than in the case where the video data conforms to the conventional standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, and VC-1.

Thus, it is possible to save power by switching the drive frequency according to the standard to which the video data conforms. In addition, when a battery is used to drive the LSI ex500 or the device including the LSI ex500, the life of the battery can be extended along with power saving.

(Embodiment 9)
A plurality of video data that conforms to different standards may be input to the above-described devices and systems such as a television and a mobile phone. As described above, the signal processing unit ex507 of the LSI ex500 needs to support a plurality of standards in order to be able to decode even when a plurality of video data complying with different standards is input. However, when the signal processing unit ex507 corresponding to each standard is used individually, there is a problem that the circuit scale of the LSI ex500 increases and the cost increases.

In order to solve this problem, a decoding processing unit for executing the moving picture decoding method shown in each of the above embodiments and a decoding conforming to a standard such as MPEG-2, MPEG4-AVC, or VC-1 The processing unit is partly shared. An example of this configuration is shown as ex900 in FIG. 58A. For example, the moving picture decoding method shown in each of the above embodiments and the moving picture decoding method compliant with the MPEG4-AVC standard are processed in processes such as entropy coding, inverse quantization, deblocking filter, and motion compensation. Some contents are common. For the common processing contents, the decoding processing unit ex902 corresponding to the MPEG4-AVC standard is shared, and for other processing contents specific to the present invention not corresponding to the MPEG4-AVC standard, the dedicated decoding processing unit ex901 is used. Configuration is conceivable. In particular, since the present invention is characterized by inverse quantization, for example, a dedicated decoding processing unit ex901 is used for inverse quantization, and other entropy coding, deblocking filter, motion compensation, and the like are used. For any or all of the processes, it is conceivable to share the decoding processing unit. Regarding the sharing of the decoding processing unit, regarding the common processing content, the decoding processing unit for executing the moving picture decoding method described in each of the above embodiments is shared, and the processing content specific to the MPEG4-AVC standard As for, a configuration using a dedicated decoding processing unit may be used.

Further, ex1000 in FIG. 58B shows another example in which processing is partially shared. In this example, a dedicated decoding processing unit ex1001 corresponding to processing content specific to the present invention, a dedicated decoding processing unit ex1002 corresponding to processing content specific to other conventional standards, and a moving picture decoding method of the present invention A common decoding processing unit ex1003 corresponding to processing contents common to other conventional video decoding methods is used. Here, the dedicated decoding processing units ex1001 and ex1002 are not necessarily specialized in the processing content specific to the present invention or other conventional standards, and may be capable of executing other general-purpose processing. Further, the configuration of the present embodiment can be implemented by LSI ex500.

As described above, by sharing the decoding processing unit with respect to the processing contents common to the moving picture decoding method of the present invention and the moving picture decoding method of the conventional standard, the circuit scale of the LSI is reduced, and the cost is reduced. It is possible to reduce.

The moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method according to the present invention can be applied to any multimedia data, and can improve error tolerance of moving picture coding and decoding. It is useful as a moving image encoding method and a moving image decoding method in storage, transmission, communication, etc. using a DVD device and a personal computer.

100, 100a Video encoding device 101 Subtraction unit 102 Orthogonal transformation unit 103

Quantization unit

104, 302

Inverse quantization unit

105, 303 Inverse

orthogonal transformation unit

106, 304

Addition unit

107, 305

Block memory

108, 306

Frame memory

109, 307

Intra prediction unit

110, 308

Inter prediction unit

111, 309 Inter prediction control unit 112 Picture

type determination unit

113, 310

Switch

114, 311 Prediction motion vector

candidate calculation unit

115, 312 colPic memory 116 Variable

length coding unit

117, 313 Parallax

Vector calculation unit

300, 300a Video decoding device 301 Variable length decoding unit

Claims

A prediction motion vector for encoding a motion vector of the encoding target block is calculated from at least one adjacent block that is a block spatially or temporally adjacent to the encoding target block, and the encoding target A video encoding method for encoding a block, comprising:
A first motion vector predictor calculating step for calculating a first motion vector predictor candidate from the at least one adjacent block;
A second prediction motion vector calculation step of calculating a second prediction motion vector candidate having a motion vector of value 0 or a third prediction motion vector candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the encoding target picture When,
The prediction motion vector used for encoding the motion vector of the encoding target block from the first prediction motion vector candidate and the second prediction motion vector candidate or the third prediction motion vector candidate. A predicted motion vector determination step for determining
An index encoding step of attaching an index for identifying the predicted motion vector to a bitstream;
A moving picture encoding method including:
In the second motion vector predictor calculating step, when the reference picture to which the motion vector of the coding target block refers and the coding target picture belong to different views, the third motion vector predictor Calculate candidates,
The moving image encoding method according to claim 1.
In the second predicted motion vector calculation step, the second predicted motion vector is calculated when the number of first predicted motion vector candidates calculated in the first predicted motion vector calculation step is smaller than a predetermined value. Calculating a candidate or the third predicted motion vector candidate;
The moving image encoding method according to claim 2.
The moving image encoding method further includes:
A candidate number calculating step of calculating, as the predetermined value, the number of candidate adjacent block candidates that are adjacent blocks that can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector among the at least one adjacent block;
In the candidate number calculating step, the candidate number is calculated by performing an update step for updating the candidate number for each adjacent block;
The updating step includes
Neighboring blocks are (i) a block encoded by intra prediction, (ii) a block located outside the boundary of a slice or picture including the encoding target block, and (iii) a block that has not been encoded yet A first determination step for determining whether or not any one of
If the determination result in the first determination step is true, it is determined that the adjacent block cannot be used for calculation of the prediction motion vector, and if the determination result is false, the adjacent block is used for calculation of the prediction motion vector. A decision step that determines that the block can be used;
A second step of determining whether the adjacent block can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector in the determining step or whether the adjacent block is a temporally adjacent block; A determination step of
An addition step of adding 1 to the number of candidates if the determination result in the second determination step is true,
The moving image encoding method according to claim 3.
A prediction motion vector for decoding the motion vector of the decoding target block is calculated from at least one adjacent block that is spatially or temporally adjacent to the decoding target block, and the decoding target A video decoding method for decoding a block, comprising:
A first motion vector predictor calculating step for calculating a first motion vector predictor candidate from the at least one adjacent block;
A second prediction motion vector calculation step of calculating a second prediction motion vector candidate having a motion vector of value 0 or a third prediction motion vector candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the decoding target picture When,
Obtaining an index for identifying the first predicted motion vector candidate, the second predicted motion vector candidate, or the third predicted motion vector candidate from a bitstream;
A decoding step of decoding the block to be decoded using the first predicted motion vector candidate, the second predicted motion vector candidate, or the third predicted motion vector candidate specified by the index;
A moving picture decoding method including:
In the second predictive motion vector calculation step, when the reference picture to which the motion vector of the decoding target block refers and the decoding target picture belong to different views, the third prediction motion vector Calculate candidates,
The moving picture decoding method according to claim 5.
In the second predicted motion vector calculation step, the second predicted motion vector is calculated when the number of first predicted motion vector candidates calculated in the first predicted motion vector calculation step is smaller than a predetermined value. Calculating a candidate or the third predicted motion vector candidate;
The moving picture decoding method according to claim 6.
The moving picture decoding method further includes:
A candidate number calculating step of calculating, as the predetermined value, the number of candidate adjacent block candidates that are adjacent blocks that can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector among the at least one adjacent block;
In the candidate number calculating step, the candidate number is calculated by performing an update step for updating the candidate number for each adjacent block;
The updating step includes
Neighboring blocks are (i) a block encoded by intra prediction, (ii) a block located outside the boundary of a slice or picture including the decoding target block, and (iii) a block that has not been decoded yet A first determination step for determining whether or not any one of
If the determination result in the first determination step is true, it is determined that the adjacent block cannot be used for calculation of the prediction motion vector, and if the determination result is false, the adjacent block is used for calculation of the prediction motion vector. A decision step that determines that the block can be used;
A second step of determining whether the adjacent block can be used for calculating the prediction motion vector in the determining step or whether the adjacent block is a temporally adjacent block; A determination step of
An addition step of adding 1 to the number of candidates if the determination result in the second determination step is true,
The moving picture decoding method according to claim 7.
A prediction motion vector for encoding a motion vector of the encoding target block is calculated from at least one adjacent block that is a block spatially or temporally adjacent to the encoding target block, and the encoding target A video encoding device for encoding a block,
A first motion vector predictor calculating unit that calculates a first motion vector predictor candidate from the at least one adjacent block;
Second predictive motion vector calculation unit for calculating a second predictive motion vector candidate having a motion vector of value 0 or a third predictive motion vector candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the encoding target picture When,
The prediction motion vector used for encoding the motion vector of the encoding target block from the first prediction motion vector candidate and the second prediction motion vector candidate or the third prediction motion vector candidate. A predicted motion vector determining unit for determining
An index encoding unit for attaching an index for identifying the predicted motion vector to the bitstream;
A video encoding device comprising:
A prediction motion vector for decoding the motion vector of the decoding target block is calculated from at least one adjacent block that is spatially or temporally adjacent to the decoding target block, and the decoding target A video decoding device for decoding a block,
A first motion vector predictor calculating unit that calculates a first motion vector predictor candidate from the at least one adjacent block;
A second motion vector predictor calculating unit calculates a second motion vector predictor candidate having a motion vector of value 0 or a third motion vector predictor candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the decoding target picture. When,
An acquisition unit for acquiring an index for identifying the first predicted motion vector candidate, the second predicted motion vector candidate, or the third predicted motion vector candidate from a bitstream;
A decoding unit that decodes the block to be decoded using the first predicted motion vector candidate, the second predicted motion vector candidate, or the third predicted motion vector candidate specified by the index;
A video decoding device comprising:
A prediction motion vector for encoding a motion vector of the encoding target block is calculated from at least one adjacent block that is a block spatially or temporally adjacent to the encoding target block, and the encoding target A video encoding device for encoding a block; and the video decoding device according to claim 10,
The moving image encoding device is:
A first motion vector predictor calculating unit that calculates a first motion vector predictor candidate from the at least one adjacent block;
Second predictive motion vector calculation unit for calculating a second predictive motion vector candidate having a motion vector of value 0 or a third predictive motion vector candidate having a disparity vector for a reference picture belonging to a view different from the encoding target picture When,
The prediction motion vector used for encoding the motion vector of the encoding target block from the first prediction motion vector candidate and the second prediction motion vector candidate or the third prediction motion vector candidate. A predicted motion vector determining unit for determining
A moving picture coding / decoding apparatus comprising: an index coding unit that attaches an index for identifying the predicted motion vector to a bitstream.