Patent ID: 9621889
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. An image encoding method of encoding a current picture on a block-by-block basis, the image encoding method comprising: generating a reference picture list by (i) assigning a reference picture index to at least one reference picture referable for encoding the current picture and (ii) including the at least one reference picture assigned the reference picture index into the reference picture list; and encoding a current block included in the current picture with reference to a reference picture of the at least one reference picture that is specified, from the reference picture list, for encoding the current block, wherein, when the at least one reference picture includes a reference picture belonging to a reference view different from a current view to which the current picture belongs and the reference picture belonging to the reference view has a chance of being referenced for encoding the current picture, the reference picture belonging to the reference view is added to the reference picture list in the generating, and the reference picture index is modified for each of all reference pictures of the at least one reference picture included in the reference picture list, in a range which is determined based on a total number, of all the reference pictures, of a sum of (i) a total number of referable reference pictures belonging to the current view and (ii) a total number of referable reference pictures belonging to the reference view.