US 12,489,911 B2
Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, receiving apparatus, and transmitting apparatus
Kengo Terada, Osaka (JP); Takahiro Nishi, Nara (JP); and Hisao Sasai, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to SUN PATENT TRUST, New York, NY (US)
Filed by Sun Patent Trust, New York, NY (US)
Filed on Jul. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/762,944.
Application 18/762,944 is a continuation of application No. 18/235,460, filed on Aug. 18, 2023, granted, now 12,063,379.
Application 18/235,460 is a continuation of application No. 16/745,687, filed on Jan. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,778,208, issued on Oct. 3, 2023.
Application 16/745,687 is a continuation of application No. 15/130,080, filed on Apr. 15, 2016, granted, now 11,647,211, issued on May 9, 2023.
Application 15/130,080 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2014/004889, filed on Sep. 24, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/892,536, filed on Oct. 18, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2024/0357140 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 19/31 (2014.01); H04N 19/46 (2014.01); H04N 19/587 (2014.01); H04N 19/70 (2014.01); H04N 21/845 (2011.01)
CPC H04N 19/31 (2014.11) [H04N 19/46 (2014.11); H04N 19/587 (2014.11); H04N 19/70 (2014.11); H04N 21/845 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image coding method of hierarchically coding a picture group to which a plurality of pictures belong to generate a bitstream, the plurality of pictures following a random-accessible I-picture and including at least one picture located differently in coding order and display order, the image coding method comprising:
coding each of the plurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of a plurality of hierarchical layers, with reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is same as or lower than a hierarchical layer to which the picture belongs, and without reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is higher than the hierarchical layer to which the picture belongs; and
generating the bitstream by coding the coded pictures and time information indicating decoding times of the coded pictures,
wherein, in the coding, all low-layer pictures which are the plurality of pictures belonging to low layers and are other than highest-layer pictures belonging to a highest layer among the plurality of hierarchical layers are coded at equal intervals, and the highest-layer pictures are coded alternately with the low-layer pictures, only each of the highest-layer pictures being coded without reference to a picture belonging to a second-highest layer and following the highest-layer picture in display order,
in the generating, the time information indicating that the decoding times are set at equal intervals for the low-layer pictures is coded,
the time information indicates that decoding times of all pictures belonging to the picture group precede decoding times of all pictures belonging to a subsequent picture group which follows a subsequent I-picture following the I-picture in display order,
each of the highest-layer pictures is coded without reference to a picture immediately following in display order and belonging to an immediately-lower hierarchical layer,
the highest-layer pictures include a plurality of B-pictures, and
a lead B-picture that is leading in display order among the plurality of B-pictures included in the highest-layer pictures is coded with reference to only a picture belonging to a lowest hierarchical layer and preceding the lead B picture in display order.