Patent ID: 9609334
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. A video encoding apparatus using a tree structure, the apparatus comprising: a splitter configured to generate a partition flag indicating whether each block, starting from a block corresponding to an uppermost layer of the tree structure, is divided into four blocks of a lower layer; and an encoder configured to encode, into a bitstream, the partition flag and prediction type information on a block which is not further divided in the tree structure, wherein, when a block of a first layer in the tree structure is divided into four blocks of a second layer which is a lower layer of the first layer, the encoder is configured to encode the partition flag for each of the four blocks of the second layer in a predetermined order, the predetermined order being an order of an upper left block, an upper right block, a lower left block and a lower right block, wherein, when a block among the four blocks of the second layer is further divided into four blocks of a third layer which is a lower layer of the second layer, the encoder is configured to encode the partition flag for each of the four blocks of the third layer in the predetermined order, before encoding the partition flag for a next block of the second layer in the predetermined order.