Patent ID: 9554147
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. An image coding method for coding pictures into a coded bitstream, the image coding method comprising: writing, into a sequence header, among a plurality of reference pictures covered by the buffer descriptions, to be assigned as a long-term reference picture; selecting one of the buffer descriptions for a slice in one of the pictures; writing, into a header of the slice, selecting information for specifying the selected buffer description; and coding the slice using the reference picture to be assigned as the long-term reference picture identified by the selected buffer description, syntax elements included in the sequence header and including the buffer descriptions are applied to all of the pictures in the coded bitstream, syntax elements included in the header of the slice and including the selecting information are applied to all blocks in the slice, the long-term information, which is written into the sequence header includes, the header of the slice further includes information for updating the long-term information by updating the buffer descriptions written into the sequence header.