Abstract:
Recent video coding schemes support inter-color-plane prediction to achieve higher coding efficiency and improved visual quality. Inter-color-plane prediction schemes in the prior art do not account for the variety of video content representations that are used in practice. The current invention provides methods and apparatuses for performing inter-color-plane prediction with adaptability to various existing video content representations. The benefit of the current invention is in the form of improved applicability and coding efficiency of inter-color-plane prediction techniques.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention can be used in any multimedia data coding and, more particularly, in coding of image and video contents comprising more than one color planes. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    State-of-the-art video coding schemes, such as MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, and the upcoming HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), support coding of image and video contents comprising one or more color planes/components. An example of such video contents is video data in YUV color space with 4:2:0 chroma format (color plane format). YUV color space comprises one luminance plane (Y) and two chrominance planes (U and V), while 4:2:0 chroma format indicates that the resolution of the two chrominance planes is horizontally and vertically half of the luminance plane resolution. Some examples of the commonly used color plane formats are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0003]    At aligned positions (as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), different color planes of an image often contain object shapes and features that are correlated or similar to a certain extent. By utilizing such a correlation, inter-color-plane prediction can be performed in which samples of a second color plane (such as the U plane) are predicted from prior reconstructed samples of a first color plane (such as the Y plane). During both encoding and decoding processes, reconstruction of a first block of the first color plane is performed prior to the prediction process for an aligned second block of the second color plane, so that reconstructed samples of the first block are available for generating the prediction samples for the second block. Inter-color-plane prediction is supported in the Working Draft 3 of HEVC video coding scheme. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0004]    The problem with the prior art of inter-color-plane prediction is that it does not account for other image/video content representations other than 4:2:0 chroma format with color plane sampling locations shown in (a) of  FIG. 3 . Color plane sampling location indicates the position of image samples of a lower-resolution color plane in relation to another higher-resolution color plane. A number of color plane sampling locations may be used in a video, as shown in the examples in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0005]    In addition, the prior art does not account for field coding, in which alternate rows of image samples are coded separately as top and bottom fields. When field coding is used, color sampling locations in the top field and bottom field are different from the case where frame coding is used, as shown in the example in  FIG. 4 . 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0006]    To solve the above problems, new methods and apparatuses for performing inter-color-plane prediction with adaptability to various color plane formats, color plane sampling locations and field coding type are introduced in the current invention. 
         [0007]    What is novel about this invention is that it provides a means to adapt inter-color-plane prediction to the currently existing variety of image/video content representations, thereby expanding the applicability of inter-color-plane prediction techniques. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0008]    The effect of the current invention is in the form of adaptability of inter-color-plane prediction to various image/video content representations. Thus, applicability and coding efficiency of inter-color-plane prediction techniques are improved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating examples of color plane formats in existing variety of image/video content representations. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of an aligned set of blocks of image samples corresponding to the color planes that make up an image/video content representation. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating two examples of different color plane sampling locations for 4:2:0 color plane format. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of different color plane sampling locations in top and bottom field pictures for 4:2:0 color plane format. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the first embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the first embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and a block of reconstructed samples of a first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the second embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the second embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the third embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the third embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the fifth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the fifth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the sixth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the sixth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the seventh embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the seventh embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video encoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video decoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 22A  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane format in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the first embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 22B  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane format in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the first embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 22C  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane format in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the first embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22D  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane format in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the first embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 23A  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane sampling location in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the second embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 23B  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane sampling location in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the second embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 23C  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane sampling location in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the second embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 23D  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane sampling location in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the second embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 24A  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating field coding type in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the third embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 24B  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating field coding type in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the third embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 24C  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating field coding type in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the third embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 24D  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating field coding type in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the third embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 25A  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 25B  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 25C  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 25D  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 26A  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating prediction mode in a coded video bitstream according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 26B  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating prediction mode in a coded video bitstream according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 27A  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the fifth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 27B  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the fifth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 27C  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the fifth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 27D  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the fifth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 28A  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating third-color-plane prediction mode in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the seventh embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0053]      FIG. 28B  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating third-color-plane prediction mode in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the seventh embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0054]      FIG. 28C  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating third-color-plane prediction mode in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the seventh embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0055]      FIG. 28D  is a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating third-color-plane prediction mode in a header of a coded video bitstream according to the seventh embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0056]      FIG. 29  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the eighth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0057]      FIG. 30  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the eighth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 31  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the ninth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0059]      FIG. 32  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the ninth embodiment of the current invention. 
           [0060]      FIG. 33  shows an overall configuration of a content providing system for implementing content distribution services. 
           [0061]      FIG. 34  shows an overall configuration of a digital broadcasting system. 
           [0062]      FIG. 35  shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a television. 
           [0063]      FIG. 36  shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information reproducing/recording unit that reads and writes information from and on a recording medium that is an optical disk. 
           [0064]      FIG. 37  shows an example of a configuration of a recording medium that is an optical disk. 
           [0065]      FIG. 38A  shows an example of a cellular phone. 
           [0066]      FIG. 38B  is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a cellular phone. 
           [0067]      FIG. 39  illustrates a structure of multiplexed data. 
           [0068]      FIG. 40  schematically shows how each stream is multiplexed in multiplexed data. 
           [0069]      FIG. 41  shows how a video stream is stored in a stream of PES packets in more detail. 
           [0070]      FIG. 42  shows a structure of TS packets and source packets in the multiplexed data. 
           [0071]      FIG. 43  shows a data structure of a PMT. 
           [0072]      FIG. 44  shows an internal structure of multiplexed data information. 
           [0073]      FIG. 45  shows an internal structure of stream attribute information. 
           [0074]      FIG. 46  shows steps for identifying video data. 
           [0075]      FIG. 47  shows an example of a configuration of an integrated circuit for implementing the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method according to each of embodiments. 
           [0076]      FIG. 48  shows a configuration for switching between driving frequencies. 
           [0077]      FIG. 49  shows steps for identifying video data and switching between driving frequencies. 
           [0078]      FIG. 50  shows an example of a look-up table in which video data standards are associated with driving frequencies. 
           [0079]      FIG. 51A  is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for sharing a module of a signal processing unit. 
           [0080]      FIG. 51B  is a diagram showing another example of a configuration for sharing a module of the signal processing unit. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0081]    Embodiments of the current invention are described in the following. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that combinations of the embodiments can be carried out to further increase the adaptability of inter-color-plane prediction to various image/video content representations. 
       Embodiment 1 
       [0082]      FIG. 5  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the first embodiment of the current invention. First, module  500  writes a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane format. Module  502  then selects one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane format. Next, module  504  encodes a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Next in module  506 , a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples is reconstructed. Module  508  then uses said selected rescaling schemes and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process. Upon performing said inter-color-prediction process, module  508  produces a block of prediction samples of a second color plane. Next, module  510  subtracts said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane. In this encoding process, the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned. Finally, module  512  encodes said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0083]      FIG. 7  shows a flowchart showing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and a block of reconstructed samples of a first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane. 
         [0084]    First, module  700  rescales the neighboring reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane according to said rescaling scheme. Module  700  produces rescaled neighboring reconstructed samples of said first color plane. Neighboring reconstructed samples refer to the reconstructed samples that are generated prior to the encoding process of a current block of image samples and are adjacent to said current block. Examples of neighboring reconstructed samples are two columns of reconstructed samples on the left of a target block and two rows of reconstructed samples above a target block. 
         [0085]    A rescaling scheme performs a predetermined interpolation and upscaling/downscaling of an input block of image samples. For the color plane sampling location shown in the example in (a) of  FIG. 3 , an exemplary predetermined rescaling scheme interpolates samples A and B to produce the sample p. Similarly for the color plane sampling location shown in the example in (b) of  FIG. 3 , another exemplary predetermined rescaling scheme interpolates samples C, D, E and F to produce the sample q. In yet another color plane sampling location shown in the example in  FIG. 4 , yet another exemplary predetermined rescaling scheme interpolates samples G and H to produce the sample r. 
         [0086]    Next, module  702  calculates mapping parameters between said rescaled neighboring reconstructed samples of said first color plane and neighboring reconstructed samples of said second color plane. In this process, the positions of said neighboring reconstructed samples of said first color plane and said second color plane are aligned. Said mapping parameters control a predetermined mapping scheme which maps a first set of values to a second set of values. An example of a mapping scheme is the mapping from value x to value y according to a linear relationship y=a.x+b. In this example, the constants a and b make up a set of mapping parameters. 
         [0087]    Next, module  704  rescales said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane according to said predetermined rescaling scheme and produces a block of rescaled reconstructed samples of said first color plane. Finally, module  706  maps all sample values in said block of rescaled reconstructed samples into corresponding prediction sample values according to a predetermined mapping scheme using said mapping parameters. Module  706  produces a block of prediction samples of said second color plane, which constitutes the final output of the inter-color-plane prediction process. 
         [0088]      FIG. 6  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the first embodiment of the current invention. First, module  600  parses a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane format. Module  602  then selects one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane format. Next, module  604  decodes a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream. Next in module  606 , a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples is reconstructed. Module  608  then uses said selected rescaling schemes and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process, producing a block of prediction samples of a second color plane. Next, module  610  decodes a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream. In this decoding process, the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned. Finally, module  612  performs a reconstruction process to produce a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane, comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0089]    Both the encoding process ( FIG. 5 ) and the decoding process ( FIG. 6 ) perform the inter-color prediction process as described above in  FIG. 7  in exactly the same manner. 
         [0090]      FIG. 20  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video encoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. It consists of a motion estimation unit  2000 , a motion compensation unit  2002 , an intra prediction unit  2004 , a switch unit  2006 , a subtracting unit  2008 , a transform unit  2010 , a quantization unit  2012 , an entropy coding unit  2014 , an inverse quantization unit  2016 , an inverse transform unit  2018 , a summing unit  2020 , a filter unit  2022 , an intra prediction memory unit  2024 , and a picture memory unit  2026 . 
         [0091]    As shown in the diagram, the motion estimation unit  2000  reads an aligned set of blocks of original samples D 2003  corresponding to the color planes that make up an image/video content representation, as well as the reference pictures D 2031 , then outputs a set of motion vectors D 2005 . An example of said aligned set of blocks of original samples is three aligned blocks of original samples of Y, U and V planes. In a possible encoder implementation of this invention, the motion estimation unit  2000  uses the original samples of one predetermined color plane (for example Y color plane) for determining said set of motion vectors D 2005 . Next, the motion compensation unit  2002  reads the set of motion vectors D 2005  and the reference pictures D 2031  to produce the aligned set of blocks of inter prediction samples D 2007 . 
         [0092]    The intra prediction unit  2004  reads the aligned blocks of original samples D 2003 , prior reconstructed samples D 2027  of the current image adjacent to the blocks of original samples D 2003 , and the inter-color-plane controlling parameters D 2001 . Using these inputs, the intra prediction unit  2004  performs the intra prediction process and produces the aligned set of blocks of intra prediction samples D 2009 . 
         [0093]    The switch unit  2006  passes either the inter prediction samples D 2007  or intra prediction samples D 2009  as the prediction samples D 2011  according to a predetermined decision scheme. The subtracting unit  2008  then subtracts the prediction samples D 2011  from the original samples D 2003  and produces the residual samples D 2013 . The transform unit  2010  performs a predetermined transform scheme and the quantization unit  2012  performs a predetermined quantization scheme. The resulting quantized transformed residual data D 2017  is coded by the entropy coding unit  2014  into the coded video bitstream D 2019 . Additionally, the entropy coding unit  2014  also codes the inter-color-plane prediction control parameters D 2001  into a header of the compressed video bitstream D 2019 . 
         [0094]    The quantized transformed residual data D 2017  is inverse quantized and inverse transformed by the inverse quantization unit  2016  and the inverse transform unit  2018  into the difference samples D 2023 . The summing unit  2020  adds the prediction samples D 2011  and the difference samples D 2023  to produce the reconstructed samples D 2025 . The reconstructed samples D 2025  of the current image are stored in the intra prediction memory unit  2024  to be used for the encoding process of subsequent blocks of image samples within a current image. The reconstructed samples D 2025  are filtered by the filter unit  2022  and the filtered samples D 2029  are stored into the picture memory unit  2026 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 21  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video decoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. It consists of an entropy decoding unit  2100 , an inverse quantization unit  2102 , an inverse transform unit  2104 , a motion compensation unit  2106 , an intra prediction unit  2108 , a switch unit  2110 , a summing unit  2112 , a filter unit  2114 , an intra prediction memory unit  2116 , and a picture memory unit  2118 . 
         [0096]    As shown in the diagram, the entropy decoding unit  2100  decodes residual data D 2103  from the coded video bitstream D 2101 . The residual data is inverse quantized and inverse transformed by the inverse quantization unit  2102  and the inverse transform unit  2104 , resulting in the residual samples D 2111 . 
         [0097]    The motion compensation unit  2106  takes a set of decoded motion vectors D 2107  and reference pictures D 2127  and produces the inter prediction samples D 2115 . The intra prediction unit takes the decoded intra prediction information D 2109  and the prior reconstructed samples D 2123  of the current image, then produces the intra prediction samples D 2117 . The decoded intra prediction information D 2109  comprises the inter-color-plane prediction control parameters. The switch unit takes the decoded intra/inter prediction mode to channel either the inter prediction samples D 2115  or intra prediction samples D 2117  as the prediction samples D 2119 . 
         [0098]    The summing unit  2112  adds the prediction samples D 2119  and the residual samples D 2113  to produce the reconstructed samples D 2121 . The reconstructed samples D 2121  of the current image are stored in the intra prediction memory unit  2116  to be used for the decoding process of subsequent blocks of image samples within a current image. The reconstructed samples D 2121  are filtered by the filter unit  2114  and the filtered samples D 2125  are stored into the picture memory unit  2118 . 
         [0099]    The effects of the first embodiment of the current invention take place in the intra prediction unit  2004  of the video encoder and the intra prediction unit  2108  of the video decoder. According to the first embodiment of the current invention, the inter-color-plane prediction control parameters (D 1901  in encoder and D 2109  in decoder) comprise a parameter indicating color plane format. The color plane format is used in the intra prediction units for selecting one out a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes to be performed during the inter-color-plane prediction process. 
         [0100]      FIG. 22  shows a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane format in a header of a coded video bitstream.  FIG. 22A  shows the location of said parameter in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 22B  shows the location of said parameter in a picture header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 22C  shows the location of said parameter in a slice header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 22D  shows that said parameter can also be derived from a pre-defined look-up table based on the profile parameter, the level parameter, or both profile and level parameters located in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream. In the prior art, an example of the parameter indicating color plane format is the syntax element chroma_format_idc in sequence parameter set of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video coding scheme specification. In the prior art, the parameter indicating color plane format is not used for controlling inter-color-plane prediction process. 
       Embodiment 2 
       [0101]      FIG. 8  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the second embodiment of the current invention. First, module  800  writes a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane sampling location. Module  802  then selects one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane sampling location. Next, module  804  encodes a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Next in module  806 , a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples is reconstructed. Module  808  then uses said selected rescaling schemes and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process. Upon performing said inter-color-prediction process, module  808  produces a block of prediction samples of a second color plane. Next, module  810  subtracts said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane. In this encoding process, the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned. Finally, module  812  encodes said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0102]      FIG. 9  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the second embodiment of the current invention. First, module  900  parses a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane sampling location. Module  902  then selects one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane sampling location. Next, module  904  decodes a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream. Next in module  906 , a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples is reconstructed. Module  908  then uses said selected rescaling schemes and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process, producing a block of prediction samples of a second color plane. Next, module  910  decodes a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream. In this decoding process, the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned. Finally, module  912  performs a reconstruction process to produce a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane, comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0103]    Both the encoding process ( FIG. 8 ) and the decoding process ( FIG. 9 ) perform the inter-color prediction process as described above in  FIG. 7  in exactly the same manner. 
         [0104]      FIG. 20  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video encoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention.  FIG. 21  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video decoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. The effects of the second embodiment of the current invention take place in the intra prediction unit  2004  of the video encoder and the intra prediction unit  2108  of the video decoder. According to the second embodiment of the current invention, the inter-color-plane prediction control parameters (D 2001  in encoder and D 2109  in decoder) comprise a parameter indicating color plane sampling location. The color plane sampling location is used in the intra prediction units for selecting one out a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes to be performed during the inter-color-plane prediction process. 
         [0105]      FIG. 23  shows a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating color plane sampling location in a header of a coded video bitstream.  FIG. 23A  shows the location of said parameter in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 23B  shows the location of said parameter in a picture header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 23C  shows the location of said parameter in a slice header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 23D  shows that said parameter can also be derived from a pre-defined look-up table based on the profile parameter, the level parameter, or both profile and level parameters located in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream. In the prior art, examples of the parameters indicating color plane sampling location are the syntax elements chroma_sample_loc_type_top_field and chroma_sample_loc_type_bottom_field in the video usability information (VUI) section of the sequence parameter set of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video coding scheme specification. In the prior art, the parameter indicating color plane sampling location is not used for controlling inter-color-plane prediction process. 
       Embodiment 3 
       [0106]      FIG. 10  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the third embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1000  writes a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating field coding type. Module  1002  then selects one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said field coding type. Next, module  1004  encodes a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Next in module  1006 , a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples is reconstructed. Module  1008  then uses said selected rescaling schemes and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process. Upon performing said inter-color-prediction process, module  1008  produces a block of prediction samples of a second color plane. Next, module  1010  subtracts said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane. In this encoding process, the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned. Finally, module  1012  encodes said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0107]      FIG. 11  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the second embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1100  parses a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating field coding type. Module  1102  then selects one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said field coding type. Next, module  1104  decodes a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream. Next in module  1106 , a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples is reconstructed. Module  1108  then uses said selected rescaling schemes and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process, producing a block of prediction samples of a second color plane. Next, module  1110  decodes a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream. In this decoding process, the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned. Finally, module  1112  performs a reconstruction process to produce a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane, comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0108]    Both the encoding process ( FIG. 10 ) and the decoding process ( FIG. 11 ) perform the inter-color prediction process as described above in  FIG. 7  in exactly the same manner. 
         [0109]      FIG. 20  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video encoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention.  FIG. 21  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video decoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. The effects of the third embodiment of the current invention take place in the intra prediction unit  2004  of the video encoder and the intra prediction unit  2108  of the video decoder. According to the third embodiment of the current invention, the inter-color-plane prediction control parameters (D 2001  in encoder and D 2109  in decoder) comprise a parameter indicating field coding type. The field coding type is used in the intra prediction units for selecting one out a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes to be performed during the inter-color-plane prediction process. 
         [0110]      FIG. 24  shows a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating field coding type in a header of a coded video bitstream.  FIG. 24A  shows the location of said parameter in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 24B  shows the location of said parameter in a picture header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 24C  shows the location of said parameter in a slice header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 24D  shows that said parameter can also be derived from a pre-defined look-up table based on the profile parameter, the level parameter, or both profile and level parameters located in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream. In the prior art, an example of the parameter indicating field coding type is the syntax element field_pic_flag in the slice header of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video coding scheme specification. In the prior art, the parameter indicating field coding type is not used for controlling inter-color-plane prediction process. 
         [0111]    As indicated above, combinations of two or more embodiments of the current invention can be carried out. In particular, combinations among first, second and third embodiments can be utilized to enable the adaptability of inter-color-plane prediction to various image/video content representations. 
       Embodiment 4 
       [0112]      FIG. 12  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1200  writes a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled. In one embodiment of the current invention, the parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled is a flag. In another embodiment of the current invention, the parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-prediction is enabled is inferred from a parameter having another primary purpose not directly related to inter-color-plane prediction (for example, a parameter indicating field coding type). In yet another embodiment of the current invention, the parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-prediction is enabled is inferred from a combination of a plurality of parameters having another primary purposes not directly related to inter-color-plane prediction (for example, parameters indicating field coding type and intra/inter picture type). 
         [0113]    Module  1202  then judges whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled. When inter-color-plane prediction is enabled, module  1204  performs a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a first prediction scheme utilizing inter-color-plane prediction. When inter-color-plane prediction is not enabled, module  1206  performs a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a second prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction. 
         [0114]    Next, whether or not inter-color-prediction is enabled, module  1208  subtracts said block of prediction samples from a block of original samples to produce a block of residual samples. Then, module  1210  encodes said block of residual samples into said compressed video bitstream. Finally, module  1212  writes a prediction mode parameter into said compressed video bitstream to identify the prediction scheme used for producing said block of prediction samples. Said prediction mode parameter identifies one out of a plurality of prediction schemes. Both said first and said second prediction scheme are associated with a same value of said prediction mode parameter, for example an index value of 0. 
         [0115]      FIG. 13  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1300  parses a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled. Next, module  1302  parses a prediction mode parameter from said compressed video bitstream to identify a prediction scheme for a block of image samples out of a plurality of predefined prediction schemes. Module  1304  then judges whether the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal to a predetermined value. An example of the predetermined value is the value 0. 
         [0116]    When the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal to said predetermined value, module  1306  then judges whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled. 
         [0117]    When inter-color-plane prediction is enabled, module  1308  performs a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a first prediction scheme utilizing inter-color-plane prediction. When inter-color-plane prediction is not enabled, module  1310  performs a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a second prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction. 
         [0118]    When the value of said prediction mode parameter is not equal to said predetermined value, module  1312  performs a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a third prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction. 
         [0119]    Next, whether or not inter-color-prediction is enabled and whether or not the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal to said predetermined value, module  1314  decodes a block of residual samples corresponding to said block of image samples from said compressed video bitstream. Module  1316  then reconstructs a block of reconstructed samples comprising summing said block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples. 
         [0120]    Both the encoding process ( FIG. 12 ) and the decoding process ( FIG. 13 ) perform the prediction process in exactly the same manner. The first prediction scheme utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprises the steps as described above in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0121]      FIG. 20  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video encoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention.  FIG. 21  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video decoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. The effects of the fourth embodiment of the current invention take place in the intra prediction unit  2004  of the video encoder and the intra prediction unit  2108  of the video decoder. According to the fourth embodiment of the current invention, the inter-color-plane prediction control parameters (D 2001  in encoder and D 2109  in decoder) comprise a parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled. 
         [0122]      FIG. 25  shows a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled in a header of a coded video bitstream.  FIG. 25A  shows the location of said parameter in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 25B  shows the location of said parameter in a picture header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 25C  shows the location of said parameter in a slice header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 25D  shows that said parameter can also be derived from a pre-defined look-up table based on the profile parameter, the level parameter, or both profile and level parameters located in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream. 
         [0123]      FIG. 26  shows a diagram showing the location of the parameter in a coded video bitstream indicating prediction mode for a block of image samples or a set of aligned blocks of image samples representing the color planes of a video/image content representation.  FIG. 26A  shows the location of said parameter in a header of a coding unit. 
         [0124]      FIG. 26B  shows the location of said parameter in a header of a prediction unit. 
       Embodiment 5 
       [0125]      FIG. 14  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the fifth embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1400  writes a parameter into a header of a coded video bitstream indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction. Inter-color-plane prediction direction specifies whether a second color plane is predicted from a first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane. Module  1402  then judges whether said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane. 
         [0126]    When said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane, module  1404  encodes a block of original samples of said first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Module  1406  reconstructs a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said block of original samples of said first color plane. Next, module  1408  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said second color plane. Module  1410  subtracts said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residuals samples of said second color plane. Finally, module  1412  encodes said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0127]    When said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane, module  1414  encodes a block of original samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Module  1416  reconstructs a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said block of original samples of said second color plane. Next, module  1418  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said first color plane. Module  1420  subtracts said block of prediction samples of said first color plane from a block of original samples of said first color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said first color plane. Finally, module  1422  encodes said block of residual samples of said first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0128]      FIG. 15  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the fifth embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1500  parses a parameter from a header of a coded video bitstream indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction. Inter-color-plane prediction direction specifies whether a second color plane is predicted from a first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane. Then, module  1502  decodes a first block of residual samples corresponding to said first color plane from said compressed video bitstream, and module  1504  decodes a second block of residual samples corresponding to said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream. Next, module  1506  judges whether said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane. 
         [0129]    When said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane, module  1508  reconstructs a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples. Module  1510  then performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said second color plane. Finally, module  1512  reconstructs a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0130]    When said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane, module  1514  reconstructs a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples. Module  1516  then performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said first color plane. Finally, module  1518  reconstructs a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane comprising summing said first block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples of said first color plane. 
         [0131]    Both the encoding process ( FIG. 14 ) and the decoding process ( FIG. 15 ) perform the inter-color prediction process as described above in  FIG. 7  in exactly the same manner. 
         [0132]      FIG. 20  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video encoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention.  FIG. 21  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video decoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. The effects of the fifth embodiment of the current invention take place in the intra prediction unit  2004  of the video encoder and the intra prediction unit  2108  of the video decoder. According to the fifth embodiment of the current invention, the inter-color-plane prediction control parameters (D 2001  in encoder and D 2109  in decoder) comprise a parameter indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction. 
         [0133]      FIG. 27  shows a diagram showing the location of the parameter indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction in a header of a coded video bitstream.  FIG. 27A  shows the location of said parameter in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 27B  shows the location of said parameter in a picture header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 27C  shows the location of said parameter in a slice header of a compressed video bitstream.  FIG. 27D  shows that said parameter can also be derived from a pre-defined look-up table based on the profile parameter, the level parameter, or both profile and level parameters located in a sequence header of a compressed video bitstream. 
       Embodiment 6 
       [0134]      FIG. 16  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the sixth embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1600  encodes a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Module  1602  then reconstructs a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples. Next, module  1604  encodes a second block of original samples of a second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Module  1606  then reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said second block of original samples. Next, module  1608  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of a third color plane. Module  1610  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane. Next, module  1612  combines said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. In one embodiment of the current invention, the predetermined combining scheme is linear averaging between collocated sample values in said first and said second blocks of intermediate prediction samples. In another embodiment of the current invention, the predetermined combining scheme is weighted averaging between collocated values in said first and said second blocks of intermediate prediction samples. An example of weighted averaging is the operation p=a.p1+b.p2+c, where p is the resulting weighted average value, p1 and p2 are the input values, a and b are predetermined weights (scaling factors) assigned to p1 and p2 respectively, and c is a constant additive offset value. 
         [0135]    Next, module  1614  then subtracts said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane from a third block of original samples of said third color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said third color plane. The positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of original samples are aligned. Finally, module  1616  encodes said block of residual samples of said third color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0136]      FIG. 17  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the sixth embodiment of the current invention. Module  1700  decodes a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream. Module  1702  then reconstructs a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane. Next, module  1704  decodes a second block of residual samples of a second color plane from said compressed video bitstream. Module  1706  then reconstructs a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples of said second color plane. Next, module  1708  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of a third color plane. Module  1710  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane. Module  1712  then combines said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. Next, module  1714  decodes a third block of residual samples of a third color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of residual samples are aligned. Module  1716  reconstructs a third block of reconstructed samples of said third color plane comprising summing said third block of residual samples of said third color plane and said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0137]    Both the encoding process ( FIG. 16 ) and the decoding process ( FIG. 17 ) perform the inter-color prediction process as described above in  FIG. 7  in exactly the same manner and utilizes the same predetermined combining scheme as described above. 
         [0138]      FIG. 20  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video encoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention.  FIG. 21  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video decoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. The effects of the sixth embodiment of the current invention take place in the intra prediction unit  2004  of the video encoder and the intra prediction unit  2108  of the video decoder. According to the sixth embodiment of the current invention, no inter-color-plane prediction control parameters are carried in the coded video bitstream (in other words, the data D 2001  in encoder and D 2109  in decoder is not present). 
       Embodiment 7 
       [0139]      FIG. 18  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the seventh embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1800  writes one or more parameters into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating third-color-plane prediction mode. Said third-color-plane prediction mode specifies whether a third color plane is predicted from both a first and a second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane. Next, module  1802  encodes a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Module  1804  then reconstructs a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples. Next, module  1806  encodes a second block of original samples of a second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. Module  1808  then reconstructs a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said second block of original samples. Module  1810  judges whether said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane. 
         [0140]    When said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, module  1812  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane. Module  1814  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane. Next, module  1816  combines said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0141]    When said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, module  1818  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0142]    When said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, module  1820  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of final intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0143]    Subsequently after said block of final intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane is produced, module  1822  subtracts said block of final prediction samples from a third block of original samples of said third color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said third color plane. The positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of original samples are aligned. Finally, module  1824  encodes said block of residual samples of said third color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0144]      FIG. 19  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the seventh embodiment of the current invention. First, module  1900  parses one or more parameters from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating third-color-plane prediction mode. Equivalent to the encoding process, said third third-color-plane prediction mode specifies whether a third color plane is predicted from both a first and a second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane. Next, module  1902  decodes a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream. Module  1904  then reconstructs a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane. Next, module  1906  decodes a second block of residual samples of a second color plane from said compressed video bitstream. Module  1908  then reconstructs a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples of said second color plane. Next, module  1910  judges whether said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane. 
         [0145]    When said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, module  1912  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane. Module  1914  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane. Next, module  1916  combines said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. When said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, module  1918  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0146]    When said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, module  1920  performs an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of final intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0147]    Subsequently after said block of final intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane is produced, module  1922  decodes a third block of residual samples of a third color plane from said compressed video bitstream. The positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of residual samples are aligned. Finally, module  1924  reconstructs a third block of reconstructed samples of said third color plane comprising summing said third block of residual samples of said third color plane and said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0148]    Both the encoding process ( FIG. 18 ) and the decoding process ( FIG. 19 ) perform the inter-color prediction process as described above in  FIG. 7  in exactly the same manner and utilizes the same predetermined combining scheme as described above. 
         [0149]      FIG. 20  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video encoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention.  FIG. 21  shows a block diagram showing an example apparatus of a video decoder utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the current invention. The effects of the seventh embodiment of the current invention take place in the intra prediction unit  2004  of the video encoder and the intra prediction unit  2108  of the video decoder. According to the seventh embodiment of the current invention, the inter-color-plane prediction control parameters (D 2001  in encoder and D 2109  in decoder) comprise a parameter indicating third-color-plane prediction mode. 
       Embodiment 8 
       [0150]      FIG. 29  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the eighth embodiment of the current invention.  FIG. 30  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the eighth embodiment of the current invention. This embodiment reflects explicit combining scheme used for generating final prediction samples from two intermediate prediction samples. 
       Embodiment 9 
       [0151]      FIG. 31  shows a flowchart showing a video encoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the ninth embodiment of the current invention.  FIG. 32  shows a flowchart showing a video decoding process utilizing inter-color-plane prediction scheme according to the ninth embodiment of the current invention. This embodiment reflects the selection of rescaling scheme based on both color plane format and field coding type. 
         [0152]    &lt;Summary&gt; 
         [0153]    (Method 1) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, writing a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane format; selecting one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane format; encoding a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; subtracting said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned; encoding said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0154]    (Method 2) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, parsing a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane format; selecting one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane format; decoding a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; decoding a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0155]    (Method 3) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, writing a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane sampling location; selecting one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane sampling location; encoding a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; subtracting said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned; encoding said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0156]    (Method 4) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, parsing a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane sampling location; selecting one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane sampling location; decoding a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; decoding a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0157]    (Method 5) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, writing a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating field coding type; selecting one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said field coding type; encoding a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; subtracting said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned; encoding said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0158]    (Method 6) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, parsing a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating field coding type; selecting one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said field coding type; decoding a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; decoding a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0159]    (Method 7) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, writing a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled; judging whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled; wherein, when inter-color-plane prediction is enabled, performing a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a first prediction scheme utilizing inter-color-plane prediction; wherein, when inter-color-plane prediction is not enabled, performing a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a second prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction whereafter, when inter-color-plane prediction is enabled or not enabled, subtracting said block of prediction samples from a block of original samples to produce a block of residual samples; encoding said block of residual samples into said compressed video bitstream; writing a prediction mode parameter into said compressed video bitstream to identify the prediction scheme used for producing said block of prediction samples, whereas said prediction mode parameter identifies one out of a plurality of prediction schemes, and both said first and said second prediction scheme are associated with a same value of said prediction mode parameter. 
         [0160]    (Method 8) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, parsing a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled; parsing a prediction mode parameter from said compressed video bitstream to identify a prediction scheme for a block of image samples out of a plurality of predefined prediction schemes; judging whether the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal to a predetermined value; wherein, when the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal to said predetermined value, judging whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled; wherein, when inter-color-plane prediction is enabled, performing a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a first prediction scheme utilizing inter-color-plane prediction; wherein, when inter-color-plane prediction is not enabled, performing a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a second prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction; wherein, when the value of said prediction mode parameter is not equal to said predetermined value, performing a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a third prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction; whereafter, when the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal or not equal to said predetermined value and inter-color-plane prediction is enabled or not enabled, decoding a block of residual samples corresponding to said block of image samples from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples comprising summing said block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples. 
         [0161]    (Method 9) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, writing a parameter into a header of a coded video bitstream indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction specifying whether a second color plane is predicted from a first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane; judging whether said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane; wherein, when said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane, encoding a block of original samples of said first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said block of original samples of said first color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said second color plane; subtracting said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residuals samples of said second color plane; encoding said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; wherein, when said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane, encoding a block of original samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said block of original samples of said second color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said first color plane; subtracting said block of prediction samples of said first color plane from a block of original samples of said first color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said first color plane; encoding said block of residual samples of said first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0162]    (Method 10) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, parsing a parameter from a header of a coded video bitstream indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction specifying whether a second color plane is predicted from a first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane; decoding a first block of residual samples corresponding to said first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; decoding a second block of residual samples corresponding to said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream; judging whether said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane; wherein, when said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane, reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said second color plane; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane; wherein, when said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane, reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said first color plane; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane comprising summing said first block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples of said first color plane. 
         [0163]    (Method 11) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, encoding a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; encoding a second block of original samples of a second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said second block of original samples; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of a third color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane; combining said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane; subtracting said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane from a third block of original samples of said third color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said third color plane, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of original samples are aligned; encoding said block of residual samples of said third color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0164]    (Method 12) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, decoding a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; decoding a second block of residual samples of a second color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples of said second color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of a third color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane; combining said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane; decoding a third block of residual samples of a third color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of residual samples are aligned; reconstructing a third block of reconstructed samples of said third color plane comprising summing said third block of residual samples of said third color plane and said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0165]    (Method 13) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, writing one or more parameters into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating third-color-plane prediction mode specifying whether a third color plane is predicted from both a first and a second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane; encoding a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; encoding a second block of original samples of a second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said second block of original samples; judging whether said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane; wherein, when said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, combining said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane, wherein, when said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane, wherein, when said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of final intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, whereafter, when said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, subtracting said block of final prediction samples from a third block of original samples of said third color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said third color plane, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of original samples are aligned; encoding said block of residual samples of said third color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0166]    (Method 14) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, parsing one or more parameters from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating third-color-plane prediction mode specifying whether a third color plane is predicted from both a first and a second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane; decoding a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; decoding a second block of residual samples of a second color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples of said second color plane; judging whether said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane; wherein, when said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, combining said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane, wherein, when said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane, wherein, when said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of final intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, whereafter, when said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, decoding a third block of residual samples of a third color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of residual samples are aligned; reconstructing a third block of reconstructed samples of said third color plane comprising summing said third block of residual samples of said third color plane and said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0167]    (Method 15) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, selecting a combining scheme; writing a parameter into a header of a coded video bitstream indicating said combining scheme; encoding a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; encoding a second block of original samples of a second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said second block of original samples; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of a third color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane; combining said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to said combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane; subtracting said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane from a third block of original samples of said third color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said third color plane, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of original samples are aligned; encoding said block of residual samples of said third color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0168]    (Method 16) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, parsing a parameter from a header of a coded video bitstream indicating a combining scheme; decoding a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; decoding a second block of residual samples of a second color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples of said second color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of a third color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane; combining said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to said combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane; decoding a third block of residual samples of a third color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of residual samples are aligned; reconstructing a third block of reconstructed samples of said third color plane comprising summing said third block of residual samples of said third color plane and said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0169]    (Method 17) A method of encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, writing a first parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane format; writing a second parameter into a header of said compressed video bitstream indicating field coding type; selecting one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane format and said field coding type; encoding a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; subtracting said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned; encoding said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0170]    (Method 18) A method of decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, parsing a first parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane format; parsing a second parameter from a header of said compressed video bitstream indicating field coding type; selecting one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane format and said field coding type; decoding a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; reconstructing a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; performing an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; decoding a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned; reconstructing a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0171]    (Apparatus 19) An apparatus for encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a writing unit operable to write a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane format; a selecting unit operable to select one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane format; an encoding unit operable to encode a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; a subtracting unit operable to subtract said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned; an encoding unit operable to encode said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0172]    (Apparatus 20) An apparatus for decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a parsing unit operable to parse a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane format; a selecting unit operable to select one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane format; a decoding unit operable to decode a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; a decoding unit operable to decode a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0173]    (Apparatus 21) An apparatus for encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a writing unit operable to write a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane sampling location; a selecting unit operable to select one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane sampling location; an encoding unit operable to encode a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; a subtracting unit operable to subtract said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned; an encoding unit operable to encode said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0174]    (Apparatus 22) An apparatus for decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a parsing unit operable to parse a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating color plane sampling location; a selecting unit operable to select one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said color plane sampling location; a decoding unit operable to decode a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; a decoding unit operable to decode a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0175]    (Apparatus 23) An apparatus for encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a writing unit operable to write a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating field coding type; a selecting unit operable to select one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said field coding type; an encoding unit operable to encode a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; a subtracting unit operable to subtract said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a second block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said second color plane, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of original samples are aligned; an encoding unit operable to encode said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0176]    (Apparatus 24) An apparatus for decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a parsing unit operable to parse a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating field coding type; a selecting unit operable to select one out of a plurality of predetermined rescaling schemes based on said field coding type; a decoding unit operable to decode a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using said selected rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of a second color plane; a decoding unit operable to decode a second block of residual samples of said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block and said second block of residual samples are aligned; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples of said second color plane and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane. 
         [0177]    (Apparatus 25) An apparatus for encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a writing unit operable to write a parameter into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled; a judging unit operable to judge whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled; wherein, when inter-color-plane prediction is enabled, a prediction unit operable to perform a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a first prediction scheme utilizing inter-color-plane prediction; wherein, when inter-color-plane prediction is not enabled, a prediction unit operable to perform a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a second prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction whereafter, when inter-color-plane prediction is enabled or not enabled, a subtracting unit operable to subtract said block of prediction samples from a block of original samples to produce a block of residual samples; an encoding unit operable to encode said block of residual samples into said compressed video bitstream; a writing unit operable to write a prediction mode parameter into said compressed video bitstream to identify the prediction scheme used for producing said block of prediction samples, whereas said prediction mode parameter identifies one out of a plurality of prediction schemes, and both said first and said second prediction scheme are associated with a same value of said prediction mode parameter. 
         [0178]    (Apparatus 26) An apparatus for decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a parsing unit operable to parse a parameter from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled; a parsing unit operable to parse a prediction mode parameter from said compressed video bitstream to identify a prediction scheme for a block of image samples out of a plurality of predefined prediction schemes; a judging unit operable to judge whether the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal to a predetermined value; wherein, when the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal to said predetermined value, a judging unit operable to judge whether or not inter-color-plane prediction is enabled; wherein, when inter-color-plane prediction is enabled, a prediction unit operable to perform a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a first prediction scheme utilizing inter-color-plane prediction; wherein, when inter-color-plane prediction is not enabled, a prediction unit operable to perform a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a second prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction; wherein, when the value of said prediction mode parameter is not equal to said predetermined value, a prediction unit operable to perform a prediction process to produce a block of prediction samples according to a third prediction scheme not utilizing inter-color-plane prediction; whereafter, when the value of said prediction mode parameter is equal or not equal to said predetermined value and inter-color-plane prediction is enabled or not enabled, a decoding unit operable to decode a block of residual samples corresponding to said block of image samples from said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples comprising summing said block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples. 
         [0179]    (Apparatus 27) An apparatus for encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a writing unit operable to write a parameter into a header of a coded video bitstream indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction specifying whether a second color plane is predicted from a first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane; a judging unit operable to judge whether said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane; wherein, when said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane, an encoding unit operable to encode a block of original samples of said first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said block of original samples of said first color plane; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said second color plane; a subtracting unit operable to subtract said block of prediction samples of said second color plane from a block of original samples of said second color plane to produce a block of residuals samples of said second color plane; an encoding unit operable to encode said block of residual samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; wherein, when said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane, an encoding unit operable to encode a block of original samples of said second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said block of original samples of said second color plane; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said first color plane; a subtracting unit operable to subtract said block of prediction samples of said first color plane from a block of original samples of said first color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said first color plane; an encoding unit operable to encode said block of residual samples of said first color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0180]    (Apparatus 28) An apparatus for decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a parsing unit operable to parse a parameter from a header of a coded video bitstream indicating inter-color-plane prediction direction specifying whether a second color plane is predicted from a first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane; a decoding unit operable to decode a first block of residual samples corresponding to said first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a decoding unit operable to decode a second block of residual samples corresponding to said second color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a judging unit operable to judge whether said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane or said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane; wherein, when said second color plane is predicted from said first color plane, a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said second color plane; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane comprising summing said second block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples of said second color plane; wherein, when said first color plane is predicted from said second color plane, a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of prediction samples of said first color plane; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane comprising summing said first block of residual samples and said block of prediction samples of said first color plane. 
         [0181]    (Apparatus 29) An apparatus for encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, an encoding unit operable to encode a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; an encoding unit operable to encode a second block of original samples of a second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said second block of original samples; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of a third color plane; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane; a combining unit operable to combine said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane; a subtracting unit operable to subtract said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane from a third block of original samples of said third color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said third color plane, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of original samples are aligned; an encoding unit operable to encode said block of residual samples of said third color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0182]    (Apparatus 30) An apparatus for decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a decoding unit operable to decode a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; a decoding unit operable to decode a second block of residual samples of a second color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples of said second color plane; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of a third color plane; a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane; a combining unit operable to combine said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane; a decoding unit operable to decode a third block of residual samples of a third color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of residual samples are aligned; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a third block of reconstructed samples of said third color plane comprising summing said third block of residual samples of said third color plane and said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
         [0183]    (Apparatus 31) An apparatus for encoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a writing unit operable to write one or more parameters into a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating third-color-plane prediction mode specifying whether a third color plane is predicted from both a first and a second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane; an encoding unit operable to encode a first block of original samples of a first color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane corresponding to said first block of original samples; an encoding unit operable to encode a second block of original samples of a second color plane into said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane corresponding to said second block of original samples; a judging unit operable to judge whether said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane; wherein, when said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, a combining unit operable to combine said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane, wherein, when said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane, wherein, when said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of final intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, whereafter, when said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, a subtracting unit operable to subtract said block of final prediction samples from a third block of original samples of said third color plane to produce a block of residual samples of said third color plane, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of original samples are aligned; an encoding unit operable to encode said block of residual samples of said third color plane into said compressed video bitstream. 
         [0184]    (Apparatus 32) An apparatus for decoding video utilizing inter-color-plane prediction comprising, a parsing unit operable to parse one or more parameters from a header of a compressed video bitstream indicating third-color-plane prediction mode specifying whether a third color plane is predicted from both a first and a second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane; a decoding unit operable to decode a first block of residual samples of a first color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane using said first block of residual samples of said first color plane; a decoding unit operable to decode a second block of residual samples of a second color plane from said compressed video bitstream; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane using said second block of residual samples of said second color plane; a judging unit operable to judge whether said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane; wherein, when said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a first block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, a combining unit operable to combine said first block and said second block of intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane according to a predetermined combining scheme to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane, wherein, when said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a first predetermined rescaling scheme and said first block of reconstructed samples of said first color plane to produce a block of final prediction samples of said third color plane, wherein, when said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, a prediction unit operable to perform an inter-color-plane prediction process using a second predetermined rescaling scheme and said second block of reconstructed samples of said second color plane to produce a block of final intermediate prediction samples of said third color plane, whereafter, when said third color plane is predicted from both said first and said second color planes, or said third color plane is predicted only from said first color plane, or said third color plane is predicted only from said second color plane, a decoding unit operable to decode a third block of residual samples of a third color plane from said compressed video bitstream, whereas the positions of said first block, said second block and said third block of residual samples are aligned; a reconstruction unit operable to reconstruct a third block of reconstructed samples of said third color plane comprising summing said third block of residual samples of said third color plane and said block of final prediction samples of said third color plane. 
       Embodiment 10 
       [0185]    The processing described in each of embodiments can be simply implemented in an independent computer system, by recording, in a recording medium, a program for implementing the configurations of the moving picture coding method (image coding method) and the moving picture decoding method (image decoding method) described in each of embodiments. The recording media may be any recording media as long as the program can be recorded, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magnetic optical disk, an IC card, and a semiconductor memory. 
         [0186]    Hereinafter, the applications to the moving picture coding method (image coding method) and the moving picture decoding method (image decoding method) described in each of embodiments and systems using thereof will be described. The system has a feature of having an image coding and decoding apparatus that includes an image coding apparatus using the image coding method and an image decoding apparatus using the image decoding method. Other configurations in the system can be changed as appropriate depending on the cases. 
         [0187]      FIG. 33  illustrates an overall configuration of a content providing system ex 100  for implementing content distribution services. The area for providing communication services is divided into cells of desired size, and base stations ex 106 , ex 107 , ex 108 , ex 109 , and ex 110  which are fixed wireless stations are placed in each of the cells. 
         [0188]    The content providing system ex 100  is connected to devices, such as a computer ex 111 , a personal digital assistant (PDA) ex 112 , a camera ex 113 , a cellular phone ex 114  and a game machine ex 115 , via the Internet ex 101 , an Internet service provider ex 102 , a telephone network ex 104 , as well as the base stations ex 106  to ex 110 , respectively. 
         [0189]    However, the configuration of the content providing system ex 100  is not limited to the configuration shown in  FIG. 33 , and a combination in which any of the elements are connected is acceptable. In addition, each device may be directly connected to the telephone network ex 104 , rather than via the base stations ex 106  to ex 110  which are the fixed wireless stations. Furthermore, the devices may be interconnected to each other via a short distance wireless communication and others. 
         [0190]    The camera ex 113 , such as a digital video camera, is capable of capturing video. A camera ex 116 , such as a digital video camera, is capable of capturing both still images and video. Furthermore, the cellular phone ex 114  may be the one that meets any of the standards such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) (registered trademark), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA). Alternatively, the cellular phone ex 114  may be a Personal Handyphone System (PHS). 
         [0191]    In the content providing system ex 100 , a streaming server ex 103  is connected to the camera ex 113  and others via the telephone network ex 104  and the base station ex 109 , which enables distribution of images of a live show and others. In such a distribution, a content (for example, video of a music live show) captured by the user using the camera ex 113  is coded as described above in each of embodiments (i.e., the camera functions as the image coding apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention), and the coded content is transmitted to the streaming server ex 103 . On the other hand, the streaming server ex 103  carries out stream distribution of the transmitted content data to the clients upon their requests. The clients include the computer ex 111 , the PDA ex  112 , the camera ex 113 , the cellular phone ex  114 , and the game machine ex 115  that are capable of decoding the above-mentioned coded data. Each of the devices that have received the distributed data decodes and reproduces the coded data (i.e., functions as the image decoding apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention). 
         [0192]    The captured data may be coded by the camera ex 113  or the streaming server ex 103  that transmits the data, or the coding processes may be shared between the camera ex 113  and the streaming server ex 103 . Similarly, the distributed data may be decoded by the clients or the streaming server ex 103 , or the decoding processes may be shared between the clients and the streaming server ex 103 . Furthermore, the data of the still images and video captured by not only the camera ex 113  but also the camera ex 116  may be transmitted to the streaming server ex 103  through the computer ex 111 . The coding processes may be performed by the camera ex 116 , the computer ex 111 , or the streaming server ex 103 , or shared among them. 
         [0193]    Furthermore, the coding and decoding processes may be performed by an LSI ex 500  generally included in each of the computer ex 111  and the devices. The LSI ex 500  may be configured of a single chip or a plurality of chips. Software for coding and decoding video may be integrated into some type of a recording medium (such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, and a hard disk) that is readable by the computer ex 111  and others, and the coding and decoding processes may be performed using the software. Furthermore, when the cellular phone ex 114  is equipped with a camera, the image data obtained by the camera may be transmitted. The video data is data coded by the LSI ex 500  included in the cellular phone ex  114 . 
         [0194]    Furthermore, the streaming server ex 103  may be composed of servers and computers, and may decentralize data and process the decentralized data, record, or distribute data. 
         [0195]    As described above, the clients may receive and reproduce the coded data in the content providing system ex 100 . In other words, the clients can receive and decode information transmitted by the user, and reproduce the decoded data in real time in the content providing system ex 100 , so that the user who does not have any particular right and equipment can implement personal broadcasting. 
         [0196]    Aside from the example of the content providing system ex 100 , at least one of the moving picture coding apparatus (image coding apparatus) and the moving picture decoding apparatus (image decoding apparatus) described in each of embodiments may be implemented in a digital broadcasting system ex 200  illustrated in  FIG. 34 . More specifically, a broadcast station ex 201  communicates or transmits, via radio waves to a broadcast satellite ex 202 , multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audio data and others onto video data. The video data is data coded by the moving picture coding method described in each of embodiments (i.e., data coded by the image coding apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention). Upon receipt of the multiplexed data, the broadcast satellite ex 202  transmits radio waves for broadcasting. Then, a home-use antenna ex 204  with a satellite broadcast reception function receives the radio waves. Next, a device such as a television (receiver) ex 300  and a set top box (STB) ex 217  decodes the received multiplexed data, and reproduces the decoded data (i.e., functions as the image decoding apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention). 
         [0197]    Furthermore, a reader/recorder ex 218  (i) reads and decodes the multiplexed data recorded on a recording media ex 215 , such as a DVD and a BD, or (i) codes video signals in the recording medium ex 215 , and in some cases, writes data obtained by multiplexing an audio signal on the coded data. The reader/recorder ex 218  can include the moving picture decoding apparatus or the moving picture coding apparatus as shown in each of embodiments. In this case, the reproduced video signals are displayed on the monitor ex 219 , and can be reproduced by another device or system using the recording medium ex 215  on which the multiplexed data is recorded. It is also possible to implement the moving picture decoding apparatus in the set top box ex 217  connected to the cable ex 203  for a cable television or to the antenna ex 204  for satellite and/or terrestrial broadcasting, so as to display the video signals on the monitor ex 219  of the television ex 300 . The moving picture decoding apparatus may be implemented not in the set top box but in the television ex 300 . 
         [0198]      FIG. 35  illustrates the television (receiver) ex 300  that uses the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method described in each of embodiments. The television ex 300  includes: a tuner ex 301  that obtains or provides multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audio data onto video data, through the antenna ex 204  or the cable ex 203 , etc. that receives a broadcast; a modulation/demodulation unit ex 302  that demodulates the received multiplexed data or modulates data into multiplexed data to be supplied outside; and a multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 303  that demultiplexes the modulated multiplexed data into video data and audio data, or multiplexes video data and audio data coded by a signal processing unit ex 306  into data. 
         [0199]    The television ex 300  further includes: a signal processing unit ex 306  including an audio signal processing unit ex 304  and a video signal processing unit ex 305  that decode audio data and video data and code audio data and video data, respectively (which function as the image coding apparatus and the image decoding apparatus according to the aspects of the present invention); and an output unit ex 309  including a speaker ex 307  that provides the decoded audio signal, and a display unit ex 308  that displays the decoded video signal, such as a display. Furthermore, the television ex 300  includes an interface unit ex 317  including an operation input unit ex 312  that receives an input of a user operation. Furthermore, the television ex 300  includes a control unit ex 310  that controls overall each constituent element of the television ex 300 , and a power supply circuit unit ex 311  that supplies power to each of the elements. Other than the operation input unit ex 312 , the interface unit ex 317  may include: a bridge ex 313  that is connected to an external device, such as the reader/recorder ex 218 ; a slot unit ex 314  for enabling attachment of the recording medium ex 216 , such as an SD card; a driver ex 315  to be connected to an external recording medium, such as a hard disk; and a modem ex 316  to be connected to a telephone network. Here, the recording medium ex 216  can electrically record information using a non-volatile/volatile semiconductor memory element for storage. The constituent elements of the television ex 300  are connected to each other through a synchronous bus. 
         [0200]    First, the configuration in which the television ex 300  decodes multiplexed data obtained from outside through the antenna ex 204  and others and reproduces the decoded data will be described. In the television ex 300 , upon a user operation through a remote controller ex 220  and others, the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 303  demultiplexes the multiplexed data demodulated by the modulation/demodulation unit ex 302 , under control of the control unit ex 310  including a CPU. Furthermore, the audio signal processing unit ex 304  decodes the demultiplexed audio data, and the video signal processing unit ex 305  decodes the demultiplexed video data, using the decoding method described in each of embodiments, in the television ex 300 . The output unit ex 309  provides the decoded video signal and audio signal outside, respectively. When the output unit ex 309  provides the video signal and the audio signal, the signals may be temporarily stored in buffers ex 318  and ex 319 , and others so that the signals are reproduced in synchronization with each other. Furthermore, the television ex 300  may read multiplexed data not through a broadcast and others but from the recording media ex 215  and ex 216 , such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a SD card. Next, a configuration in which the television ex 300  codes an audio signal and a video signal, and transmits the data outside or writes the data on a recording medium will be described. In the television ex 300 , upon a user operation through the remote controller ex 220  and others, the audio signal processing unit ex 304  codes an audio signal, and the video signal processing unit ex 305  codes a video signal, under control of the control unit ex 310  using the coding method described in each of embodiments. The multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 303  multiplexes the coded video signal and audio signal, and provides the resulting signal outside. When the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 303  multiplexes the video signal and the audio signal, the signals may be temporarily stored in the buffers ex 320  and ex 321 , and others so that the signals are reproduced in synchronization with each other. Here, the buffers ex 318 , ex 319 , ex 320 , and ex 321  may be plural as illustrated, or at least one buffer may be shared in the television ex 300 . Furthermore, data may be stored in a buffer so that the system overflow and underflow may be avoided between the modulation/de-modulation unit ex 302  and the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 303 , for example. 
         [0201]    Furthermore, the television ex 300  may include a configuration for receiving an AV input from a microphone or a camera other than the configuration for obtaining audio and video data from a broadcast or a recording medium, and may code the obtained data. Although the television ex 300  can code, multiplex, and provide outside data in the description, it may be capable of only receiving, decoding, and providing outside data but not the coding, multiplexing, and providing outside data. 
         [0202]    Furthermore, when the reader/recorder ex 218  reads or writes multiplexed data from or on a recording medium, one of the television ex 300  and the reader/recorder ex 218  may decode or code the multiplexed data, and the television ex 300  and the reader/recorder ex 218  may share the decoding or coding. 
         [0203]    As an example,  FIG. 36  illustrates a configuration of an information reproducing/recording unit ex 400  when data is read or written from or on an optical disk. The information reproducing/recording unit ex 400  includes constituent elements ex 401 , ex 402 , ex 403 , ex 404 , ex 405 , ex 406 , and ex 407  to be described hereinafter. The optical head ex 401  irradiates a laser spot in a recording surface of the recording medium ex 215  that is an optical disk to write information, and detects reflected light from the recording surface of the recording medium ex 215  to read the information. The modulation recording unit ex 402  electrically drives a semiconductor laser included in the optical head ex 401 , and modulates the laser light according to recorded data. The reproduction demodulating unit ex 403  amplifies a reproduction signal obtained by electrically detecting the reflected light from the recording surface using a photo detector included in the optical head ex 401 , and demodulates the reproduction signal by separating a signal component recorded on the recording medium ex 215  to reproduce the necessary information. The buffer ex 404  temporarily holds the information to be recorded on the recording medium ex 215  and the information reproduced from the recording medium ex 215 . The disk motor ex 405  rotates the recording medium ex 215 . The servo control unit ex 406  moves the optical head ex 401  to a predetermined information track while controlling the rotation drive of the disk motor ex 405  so as to follow the laser spot. The system control unit ex 407  controls overall the information reproducing/recording unit ex 400 . The reading and writing processes can be implemented by the system control unit ex 407  using various information stored in the buffer ex 404  and generating and adding new information as necessary, and by the modulation recording unit ex 402 , the reproduction demodulating unit ex 403 , and the servo control unit ex 406  that record and reproduce information through the optical head ex 401  while being operated in a coordinated manner. The system control unit ex 407  includes, for example, a microprocessor, and executes processing by causing a computer to execute a program for read and write. 
         [0204]    Although the optical head ex 401  irradiates a laser spot in the description, it may perform high-density recording using near field light. 
         [0205]      FIG. 37  illustrates the recording medium ex 215  that is the optical disk. On the recording surface of the recording medium ex 215 , guide grooves are spirally formed, and an information track ex 230  records, in advance, address information indicating an absolute position on the disk according to change in a shape of the guide grooves. The address information includes information for determining positions of recording blocks ex 231  that are a unit for recording data. Reproducing the information track ex 230  and reading the address information in an apparatus that records and reproduces data can lead to determination of the positions of the recording blocks. Furthermore, the recording medium ex 215  includes a data recording area ex 233 , an inner circumference area ex 232 , and an outer circumference area ex 234 . The data recording area ex 233  is an area for use in recording the user data. The inner circumference area ex 232  and the outer circumference area ex 234  that are inside and outside of the data recording area ex 233 , respectively are for specific use except for recording the user data. The information reproducing/recording unit  400  reads and writes coded audio, coded video data, or multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing the coded audio and video data, from and on the data recording area ex 233  of the recording medium ex 215 . 
         [0206]    Although an optical disk having a layer, such as a DVD and a BD is described as an example in the description, the optical disk is not limited to such, and may be an optical disk having a multilayer structure and capable of being recorded on a part other than the surface. Furthermore, the optical disk may have a structure for multidimensional recording/reproduction, such as recording of information using light of colors with different wavelengths in the same portion of the optical disk and for recording information having different layers from various angles. 
         [0207]    Furthermore, a car ex 210  having an antenna ex 205  can receive data from the satellite ex 202  and others, and reproduce video on a display device such as a car navigation system ex 211  set in the car ex 210 , in the digital broadcasting system ex 200 . Here, a configuration of the car navigation system ex 211  will be a configuration, for example, including a GPS receiving unit from the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 35 . The same will be true for the configuration of the computer ex 111 , the cellular phone ex 114 , and others. 
         [0208]      FIG. 38A  illustrates the cellular phone ex 114  that uses the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method described in embodiments. The cellular phone ex 114  includes: an antenna ex 350  for transmitting and receiving radio waves through the base station ex 110 ; a camera unit ex 365  capable of capturing moving and still images; and a display unit ex 358  such as a liquid crystal display for displaying the data such as decoded video captured by the camera unit ex 365  or received by the antenna ex 350 . The cellular phone ex 114  further includes: a main body unit including an operation key unit ex 366 ; an audio output unit ex 357  such as a speaker for output of audio; an audio input unit ex 356  such as a microphone for input of audio; a memory unit ex 367  for storing captured video or still pictures, recorded audio, coded or decoded data of the received video, the still pictures, e-mails, or others; and a slot unit ex 364  that is an interface unit for a recording medium that stores data in the same manner as the memory unit ex 367 . 
         [0209]    Next, an example of a configuration of the cellular phone ex 114  will be described with reference to  FIG. 38B . In the cellular phone ex 114 , a main control unit ex 360  designed to control overall each unit of the main body including the display unit ex 358  as well as the operation key unit ex 366  is connected mutually, via a synchronous bus ex 370 , to a power supply circuit unit ex 361 , an operation input control unit ex 362 , a video signal processing unit ex 355 , a camera interface unit ex 363 , a liquid crystal display (LCD) control unit ex 359 , a modulation/demodulation unit ex 352 , a multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 353 , an audio signal processing unit ex 354 , the slot unit ex 364 , and the memory unit ex 367 . 
         [0210]    When a call-end key or a power key is turned ON by a user&#39;s operation, the power supply circuit unit ex 361  supplies the respective units with power from a battery pack so as to activate the cell phone ex 114 . 
         [0211]    In the cellular phone ex 114 , the audio signal processing unit ex 354  converts the audio signals collected by the audio input unit ex 356  in voice conversation mode into digital audio signals under the control of the main control unit ex 360  including a CPU, ROM, and RAM. Then, the modulation/demodulation unit ex 352  performs spread spectrum processing on the digital audio signals, and the transmitting and receiving unit ex 351  performs digital-to-analog conversion and frequency conversion on the data, so as to transmit the resulting data via the antenna ex 350 . Also, in the cellular phone ex 114 , the transmitting and receiving unit ex 351  amplifies the data received by the antenna ex 350  in voice conversation mode and performs frequency conversion and the analog-to-digital conversion on the data. Then, the modulation/demodulation unit ex 352  performs inverse spread spectrum processing on the data, and the audio signal processing unit ex 354  converts it into analog audio signals, so as to output them via the audio output unit ex 357 . 
         [0212]    Furthermore, when an e-mail in data communication mode is transmitted, text data of the e-mail inputted by operating the operation key unit ex 366  and others of the main body is sent out to the main control unit ex 360  via the operation input control unit ex 362 . The main control unit ex 360  causes the modulation/demodulation unit ex 352  to perform spread spectrum processing on the text data, and the transmitting and receiving unit ex 351  performs the digital-to-analog conversion and the frequency conversion on the resulting data to transmit the data to the base station ex 110  via the antenna ex 350 . When an e-mail is received, processing that is approximately inverse to the processing for transmitting an e-mail is performed on the received data, and the resulting data is provided to the display unit ex 358 . 
         [0213]    When video, still images, or video and audio in data communication mode is or are transmitted, the video signal processing unit ex 355  compresses and codes video signals supplied from the camera unit ex 365  using the moving picture coding method shown in each of embodiments (i.e., functions as the image coding apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention), and transmits the coded video data to the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 353 . In contrast, during when the camera unit ex 365  captures video, still images, and others, the audio signal processing unit ex 354  codes audio signals collected by the audio input unit ex 356 , and transmits the coded audio data to the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 353 . 
         [0214]    The multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 353  multiplexes the coded video data supplied from the video signal processing unit ex 355  and the coded audio data supplied from the audio signal processing unit ex 354 , using a predetermined method. Then, the modulation/demodulation unit (modulation/demodulation circuit unit) ex 352  performs spread spectrum processing on the multiplexed data, and the transmitting and receiving unit ex 351  performs digital-to-analog conversion and frequency conversion on the data so as to transmit the resulting data via the antenna ex 350 . 
         [0215]    When receiving data of a video file which is linked to a Web page and others in data communication mode or when receiving an e-mail with video and/or audio attached, in order to decode the multiplexed data received via the antenna ex 350 , the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex 353  demultiplexes the multiplexed data into a video data bit stream and an audio data bit stream, and supplies the video signal processing unit ex 355  with the coded video data and the audio signal processing unit ex 354  with the coded audio data, through the synchronous bus ex 370 . The video signal processing unit ex 355  decodes the video signal using a moving picture decoding method corresponding to the moving picture coding method shown in each of embodiments (i.e., functions as the image decoding apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention), and then the display unit ex 358  displays, for instance, the video and still images included in the video file linked to the Web page via the LCD control unit ex 359 . Furthermore, the audio signal processing unit ex 354  decodes the audio signal, and the audio output unit ex 357  provides the audio. 
         [0216]    Furthermore, similarly to the television ex 300 , a terminal such as the cellular phone ex 114  probably have 3 types of implementation configurations including not only (i) a transmitting and receiving terminal including both a coding apparatus and a decoding apparatus, but also (ii) a transmitting terminal including only a coding apparatus and (iii) a receiving terminal including only a decoding apparatus. Although the digital broadcasting system ex 200  receives and transmits the multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audio data onto video data in the description, the multiplexed data may be data obtained by multiplexing not audio data but character data related to video onto video data, and may be not multiplexed data but video data itself. 
         [0217]    As such, the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method in each of embodiments can be used in any of the devices and systems described. Thus, the advantages described in each of embodiments can be obtained. 
         [0218]    Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to embodiments, and various modifications and revisions are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
       Embodiment 11 
       [0219]    Video data can be generated by switching, as necessary, between (i) the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus shown in each of embodiments and (ii) a moving picture coding method or a moving picture coding apparatus in conformity with a different standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1. 
         [0220]    Here, when a plurality of video data that conforms to the different standards is generated and is then decoded, the decoding methods need to be selected to conform to the different standards. However, since to which standard each of the plurality of the video data to be decoded conform cannot be detected, there is a problem that an appropriate decoding method cannot be selected. 
         [0221]    In order to solve the problem, multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audio data and others onto video data has a structure including identification information indicating to which standard the video data conforms. The specific structure of the multiplexed data including the video data generated in the moving picture coding method and by the moving picture coding apparatus shown in each of embodiments will be hereinafter described. The multiplexed data is a digital stream in the MPEG-2 Transport Stream format. 
         [0222]      FIG. 39  illustrates a structure of the multiplexed data. As illustrated in  FIG. 39 , the multiplexed data can be obtained by multiplexing at least one of a video stream, an audio stream, a presentation graphics stream (PG), and an interactive graphics stream. The video stream represents primary video and secondary video of a movie, the audio stream (IG) represents a primary audio part and a secondary audio part to be mixed with the primary audio part, and the presentation graphics stream represents subtitles of the movie. Here, the primary video is normal video to be displayed on a screen, and the secondary video is video to be displayed on a smaller window in the primary video. Furthermore, the interactive graphics stream represents an interactive screen to be generated by arranging the GUI components on a screen. The video stream is coded in the moving picture coding method or by the moving picture coding apparatus shown in each of embodiments, or in a moving picture coding method or by a moving picture coding apparatus in conformity with a conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1. The audio stream is coded in accordance with a standard, such as Dolby-AC-3, Dolby Digital Plus, MLP, DTS, DTS-HD, and linear PCM. 
         [0223]    Each stream included in the multiplexed data is identified by PID. For example, 0x1011 is allocated to the video stream to be used for video of a movie, 0x1100 to 0x111F are allocated to the audio streams, 0x1200 to 0x121F are allocated to the presentation graphics streams, 0x1400 to 0x141F are allocated to the interactive graphics streams, 0x1B00 to 0x1B1F are allocated to the video streams to be used for secondary video of the movie, and 0x1A00 to 0x1A1F are allocated to the audio streams to be used for the secondary video to be mixed with the primary audio. 
         [0224]      FIG. 40  schematically illustrates how data is multiplexed. First, a video stream ex 235  composed of video frames and an audio stream ex 238  composed of audio frames are transformed into a stream of PES packets ex 236  and a stream of PES packets ex 239 , and further into TS packets ex 237  and TS packets ex 240 , respectively. Similarly, data of a presentation graphics stream ex 241  and data of an interactive graphics stream ex 244  are transformed into a stream of PES packets ex 242  and a stream of PES packets ex 245 , and further into TS packets ex 243  and TS packets ex 246 , respectively. These TS packets are multiplexed into a stream to obtain multiplexed data ex 247 . 
         [0225]      FIG. 41  illustrates how a video stream is stored in a stream of PES packets in more detail. The first bar in  FIG. 41  shows a video frame stream in a video stream. The second bar shows the stream of PES packets. As indicated by arrows denoted as yy 1 , yy 2 , yy 3 , and yy 4  in  FIG. 41 , the video stream is divided into pictures as I pictures, B pictures, and P pictures each of which is a video presentation unit, and the pictures are stored in a payload of each of the PES packets. Each of the PES packets has a PES header, and the PES header stores a Presentation Time-Stamp (PTS) indicating a display time of the picture, and a Decoding Time-Stamp (DTS) indicating a decoding time of the picture. 
         [0226]      FIG. 42  illustrates a format of TS packets to be finally written on the multiplexed data. Each of the TS packets is a 188-byte fixed length packet including 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 packets are divided, and stored in the TS payloads, respectively. When a BD ROM is used, each of the TS packets is given a 4-byte TP_Extra_Header, thus resulting in 192-byte source packets. The source packets are written on the multiplexed data. The TP_Extra_Header stores information such as an Arrival_Time_Stamp (ATS). The ATS shows a transfer start time at which each of the TS packets is to be transferred to a PID filter. The source packets are arranged in the multiplexed data as shown at the bottom of  FIG. 42 . The numbers incrementing from the head of the multiplexed data are called source packet numbers (SPNs). 
         [0227]    Each of the TS packets included in the multiplexed data includes not only streams of audio, video, subtitles and others, but also a Program Association Table (PAT), a Program Map Table (PMT), and a Program Clock Reference (PCR). The PAT shows what a PID in a PMT used in the multiplexed data indicates, and a PID of the PAT itself is registered as zero. The PMT stores PIDs of the streams of video, audio, subtitles and others included in the multiplexed data, and attribute information of the streams corresponding to the PIDs. The PMT also has various descriptors relating to the multiplexed data. The descriptors have information such as copy control information showing whether copying of the multiplexed data is permitted or not. The PCR stores STC time information corresponding to an ATS showing when the PCR packet is transferred to a decoder, in order to achieve synchronization between an Arrival Time Clock (ATC) that is a time axis of ATSs, and an System Time Clock (STC) that is a time axis of PTSs and DTSs. 
         [0228]      FIG. 43  illustrates the data structure of the PMT in detail. A PMT header is disposed at the top of the PMT. The PMT header describes the length of data included in the PMT and others. A plurality of descriptors relating to the multiplexed data is disposed after the PMT header. Information such as the copy control information is described in the descriptors. After the descriptors, a plurality of pieces of stream information relating to the streams included in the multiplexed data is disposed. Each piece of stream information includes stream descriptors each describing information, such as a stream type for identifying a compression codec of a stream, a stream PID, and stream attribute information (such as a frame rate or an aspect ratio). The stream descriptors are equal in number to the number of streams in the multiplexed data. 
         [0229]    When the multiplexed data is recorded on a recording medium and others, it is recorded together with multiplexed data information files. 
         [0230]    Each of the multiplexed data information files is management information of the multiplexed data as shown in  FIG. 44 . The multiplexed data information files are in one to one correspondence with the multiplexed data, and each of the files includes multiplexed data information, stream attribute information, and an entry map. 
         [0231]    As illustrated in  FIG. 44 , the multiplexed data includes a system rate, a reproduction start time, and a reproduction end time. The system rate indicates the maximum transfer rate at which a system target decoder to be described later transfers the multiplexed data to a PID filter. The intervals of the ATSs included in the multiplexed data are set to not higher than a system rate. The reproduction start time indicates a PTS in a video frame at the head of the multiplexed data. An interval of one frame is added to a PTS in a video frame at the end of the multiplexed data, and the PTS is set to the reproduction end time. 
         [0232]    As shown in  FIG. 45 , a piece of attribute information is registered in the stream attribute information, for each PID of each stream included in the multiplexed data. Each piece of attribute information has different information depending on whether the corresponding stream is a video stream, an audio stream, a presentation graphics stream, or an interactive graphics stream. Each piece of video stream attribute information carries information including what kind of compression codec is used for compressing the video stream, and the resolution, aspect ratio and frame rate of the pieces of picture data that is included in the video stream. Each piece of audio stream attribute information carries information including what kind of compression codec is used for compressing the audio stream, how many channels are included in the audio stream, which language the audio stream supports, and how high the sampling frequency is. The video stream attribute information and the audio stream attribute information are used for initialization of a decoder before the player plays back the information. 
         [0233]    In the present embodiment, the multiplexed data to be used is of a stream type included in the PMT. Furthermore, when the multiplexed data is recorded on a recording medium, the video stream attribute information included in the multiplexed data information is used. More specifically, the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments includes a step or a unit for allocating unique information indicating video data generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus in each of embodiments, to the stream type included in the PMT or the video stream attribute information. With the configuration, the video data generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments can be distinguished from video data that conforms to another standard. 
         [0234]    Furthermore,  FIG. 46  illustrates steps of the moving picture decoding method according to the present embodiment. In Step exS 100 , the stream type included in the PMT or the video stream attribute information is obtained from the multiplexed data. Next, in Step exS 101 , it is determined whether or not the stream type or the video stream attribute information indicates that the multiplexed data is generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus in each of embodiments. When it is determined that the stream type or the video stream attribute information indicates that the multiplexed data is generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus in each of embodiments, in Step exS 102 , decoding is performed by the moving picture decoding method in each of embodiments. Furthermore, when the stream type or the video stream attribute information indicates conformance to the conventional standards, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1, in Step exS 103 , decoding is performed by a moving picture decoding method in conformity with the conventional standards. 
         [0235]    As such, allocating a new unique value to the stream type or the video stream attribute information enables determination whether or not the moving picture decoding method or the moving picture decoding apparatus that is described in each of embodiments can perform decoding. Even when multiplexed data that conforms to a different standard, an appropriate decoding method or apparatus can be selected. Thus, it becomes possible to decode information without any error. Furthermore, the moving picture coding method or apparatus, or the moving picture decoding method or apparatus in the present embodiment can be used in the devices and systems described above. 
       Embodiment 12 
       [0236]    Each of the moving picture coding method, the moving picture coding apparatus, the moving picture decoding method, and the moving picture decoding apparatus in each of embodiments is typically achieved in the form of an integrated circuit or a Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuit. As an example of the LSI,  FIG. 47  illustrates a configuration of the LSI ex 500  that is made into one chip. The LSI ex 500  includes elements ex 501 , ex 502 , ex 503 , ex 504 , ex 505 , ex 506 , ex 507 , ex 508 , and ex 509  to be described below, and the elements are connected to each other through a bus ex 510 . The power supply circuit unit ex 505  is activated by supplying each of the elements with power when the power supply circuit unit ex 505  is turned on. 
         [0237]    For example, when coding is performed, the LSI ex 500  receives an AV signal from a microphone ex 117 , a camera ex 113 , and others through an AV IO ex 509  under control of a control unit ex 501  including a CPU ex 502 , a memory controller ex 503 , a stream controller ex 504 , and a driving frequency control unit ex 512 . The received AV signal is temporarily stored in an external memory ex 511 , such as an SDRAM. Under control of the control unit ex 501 , the stored data is segmented into data portions according to the processing amount and speed to be transmitted to a signal processing unit ex 507 . Then, the signal processing unit ex 507  codes an audio signal and/or a video signal. Here, the coding of the video signal is the coding described in each of embodiments. Furthermore, the signal processing unit ex 507  sometimes multiplexes the coded audio data and the coded video data, and a stream IO ex 506  provides the multiplexed data outside. The provided multiplexed data is transmitted to the base station ex 107 , or written on the recording media ex 215 . When data sets are multiplexed, the data should be temporarily stored in the buffer ex 508  so that the data sets are synchronized with each other. 
         [0238]    Although the memory ex 511  is an element outside the LSI ex 500 , it may be included in the LSI ex 500 . The buffer ex 508  is not limited to one buffer, but may be composed of buffers. Furthermore, the LSI ex 500  may be made into one chip or a plurality of chips. 
         [0239]    Furthermore, although the control unit ex 501  includes the CPU ex 502 , the memory controller ex 503 , the stream controller ex 504 , the driving frequency control unit ex 512 , the configuration of the control unit ex 501  is not limited to such. For example, the signal processing unit ex 507  may further include a CPU. Inclusion of another CPU in the signal processing unit ex 507  can improve the processing speed. Furthermore, as another example, the CPU ex 502  may serve as or be a part of the signal processing unit ex 507 , and, for example, may include an audio signal processing unit. In such a case, the control unit ex 501  includes the signal processing unit ex 507  or the CPU ex 502  including a part of the signal processing unit ex 507 . 
         [0240]    The name used here is LSI, but it may also be called IC, system LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration. 
         [0241]    Moreover, ways to achieve integration are not limited to the LSI, and a special circuit or a general purpose processor and so forth can also achieve the integration. Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that can be programmed after manufacturing LSIs or a reconfigurable processor that allows re-configuration of the connection or configuration of an LSI can be used for the same purpose. 
         [0242]    In the future, with advancement in semiconductor technology, a brand-new technology may replace LSI. The functional blocks can be integrated using such a technology. The possibility is that the present invention is applied to biotechnology. 
       Embodiment 13 
       [0243]    When video data generated in the moving picture coding method or by the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments is decoded, compared to when video data that conforms to a conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1 is decoded, the processing amount probably increases. Thus, the LSI ex 500  needs to be set to a driving frequency higher than that of the CPU ex 502  to be used when video data in conformity with the conventional standard is decoded. However, when the driving frequency is set higher, there is a problem that the power consumption increases. 
         [0244]    In order to solve the problem, the moving picture decoding apparatus, such as the television ex 300  and the LSI ex 500  is configured to determine to which standard the video data conforms, and switch between the driving frequencies according to the determined standard.  FIG. 48  illustrates a configuration ex 800  in the present embodiment. A driving frequency switching unit ex 803  sets a driving frequency to a higher driving frequency when video data is generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments. Then, the driving frequency switching unit ex 803  instructs a decoding processing unit ex 801  that executes the moving picture decoding method described in each of embodiments to decode the video data. When the video data conforms to the conventional standard, the driving frequency switching unit ex 803  sets a driving frequency to a lower driving frequency than that of the video data generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments. Then, the driving frequency switching unit ex 803  instructs the decoding processing unit ex 802  that conforms to the conventional standard to decode the video data. 
         [0245]    More specifically, the driving frequency switching unit ex 803  includes the CPU ex 502  and the driving frequency control unit ex 512  in  FIG. 47 . Here, each of the decoding processing unit ex 801  that executes the moving picture decoding method described in each of embodiments and the decoding processing unit ex 802  that conforms to the conventional standard corresponds to the signal processing unit ex 507  in  FIG. 47 . The CPU ex 502  determines to which standard the video data conforms. Then, the driving frequency control unit ex 512  determines a driving frequency based on a signal from the CPU ex 502 . Furthermore, the signal processing unit ex 507  decodes the video data based on the signal from the CPU ex 502 . For example, the identification information described in Embodiment 11 is probably used for identifying the video data. The identification information is not limited to the one described in Embodiment 11 but may be any information as long as the information indicates to which standard the video data conforms. For example, when which standard video data conforms to can be determined based on an external signal for determining that the video data is used for a television or a disk, etc., the determination may be made based on such an external signal. Furthermore, the CPU ex 502  selects a driving frequency based on, for example, a look-up table in which the standards of the video data are associated with the driving frequencies as shown in  FIG. 50 . The driving frequency can be selected by storing the look-up table in the buffer ex 508  and in an internal memory of an LSI, and with reference to the look-up table by the CPU ex 502 . 
         [0246]      FIG. 49  illustrates steps for executing a method in the present embodiment. First, in Step exS 200 , the signal processing unit ex 507  obtains identification information from the multiplexed data. Next, in Step exS 201 , the CPU ex 502  determines whether or not the video data is generated by the coding method and the coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, based on the identification information. When the video data is generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, in Step exS 202 , the CPU ex 502  transmits a signal for setting the driving frequency to a higher driving frequency to the driving frequency control unit ex 512 . Then, the driving frequency control unit ex 512  sets the driving frequency to the higher driving frequency. On the other hand, when the identification information indicates that the video data conforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1, in Step exS 203 , the CPU ex 502  transmits a signal for setting the driving frequency to a lower driving frequency to the driving frequency control unit ex 512 . Then, the driving frequency control unit ex 512  sets the driving frequency to the lower driving frequency than that in the case where the video data is generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiment. 
         [0247]    Furthermore, along with the switching of the driving frequencies, the power conservation effect can be improved by changing the voltage to be applied to the LSI ex 500  or an apparatus including the LSI ex 500 . For example, when the driving frequency is set lower, the voltage to be applied to the LSI ex 500  or the apparatus including the LSI ex 500  is probably set to a voltage lower than that in the case where the driving frequency is set higher. 
         [0248]    Furthermore, when the processing amount for decoding is larger, the driving frequency may be set higher, and when the processing amount for decoding is smaller, the driving frequency may be set lower as the method for setting the driving frequency. Thus, the setting method is not limited to the ones described above. For example, when the processing amount for decoding video data in conformity with MPEG-4 AVC is larger than the processing amount for decoding video data generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, the driving frequency is probably set in reverse order to the setting described above. 
         [0249]    Furthermore, the method for setting the driving frequency is not limited to the method for setting the driving frequency lower. For example, when the identification information indicates that the video data is generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, the voltage to be applied to the LSI ex 500  or the apparatus including the LSI ex 500  is probably set higher. When the identification information indicates that the video data conforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1, the voltage to be applied to the LSI ex 500  or the apparatus including the LSI ex 500  is probably set lower. As another example, when the identification information indicates that the video data is generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, the driving of the CPU ex 502  does not probably have to be suspended. When the identification information indicates that the video data conforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1, the driving of the CPU ex 502  is probably suspended at a given time because the CPU ex 502  has extra processing capacity. Even when the identification information indicates that the video data is generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, in the case where the CPU ex 502  has extra processing capacity, the driving of the CPU ex 502  is probably suspended at a given time. In such a case, the suspending time is probably set shorter than that in the case where when the identification information indicates that the video data conforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1. 
         [0250]    Accordingly, the power conservation effect can be improved by switching between the driving frequencies in accordance with the standard to which the video data conforms. Furthermore, when the LSI ex 500  or the apparatus including the LSI ex 500  is driven using a battery, the battery life can be extended with the power conservation effect. 
       Embodiment 14 
       [0251]    There are cases where a plurality of video data that conforms to different standards, is provided to the devices and systems, such as a television and a mobile phone. In order to enable decoding the plurality of video data that conforms to the different standards, the signal processing unit ex 507  of the LSI ex 500  needs to conform to the different standards. However, the problems of increase in the scale of the circuit of the LSI ex 500  and increase in the cost arise with the individual use of the signal processing units ex 507  that conform to the respective standards. 
         [0252]    In order to solve the problem, what is conceived is a configuration in which the decoding processing unit for implementing the moving picture decoding method described in each of embodiments and the decoding processing unit that conforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1 are partly shared. Ex 900  in  FIG. 51A  shows an example of the configuration. For example, the moving picture decoding method described in each of embodiments and the moving picture decoding method that conforms to MPEG-4 AVC have, partly in common, the details of processing, such as entropy coding, inverse quantization, deblocking filtering, and motion compensated prediction. The details of processing to be shared probably include use of a decoding processing unit ex 902  that conforms to MPEG-4 AVC. In contrast, a dedicated decoding processing unit ex 901  is probably used for other processing unique to an aspect of the present invention. Since the aspect of the present invention is characterized by intra prediction processing in particular, for example, the dedicated decoding processing unit ex 901  is used for intra prediction processing. Otherwise, the decoding processing unit is probably shared for one of the entropy decoding, inverse quantization, deblocking filtering, and motion compensation, or all of the processing. The decoding processing unit for implementing the moving picture decoding method described in each of embodiments may be shared for the processing to be shared, and a dedicated decoding processing unit may be used for processing unique to that of MPEG-4 AVC. 
         [0253]    Furthermore, ex 1000  in  FIG. 51B  shows another example in that processing is partly shared. This example uses a configuration including a dedicated decoding processing unit ex 1001  that supports the processing unique to an aspect of the present invention, a dedicated decoding processing unit ex 1002  that supports the processing unique to another conventional standard, and a decoding processing unit ex 1003  that supports processing to be shared between the moving picture decoding method according to the aspect of the present invention and the conventional moving picture decoding method. Here, the dedicated decoding processing units ex 1001  and ex 1002  are not necessarily specialized for the processing according to the aspect of the present invention and the processing of the conventional standard, respectively, and may be the ones capable of implementing general processing. Furthermore, the configuration of the present embodiment can be implemented by the LSI ex 500 . 
         [0254]    As such, reducing the scale of the circuit of an LSI and reducing the cost are possible by sharing the decoding processing unit for the processing to be shared between the moving picture decoding method according to the aspect of the present invention and the moving picture decoding method in conformity with the conventional standard. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0255]    Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding video according to the present invention have advantages of improving coding efficiency. For example, the methods are applicable to video cameras, mobile phones, and personal computers. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               2000  Motion Estimation 
               2002  Motion Compensation 
               2004  Intra Prediction 
               2006  Switch Unit 
               2008  Subtracting Unit 
               2010  Transform 
               2012  Quantization 
               2014  Entropy Coding 
               2016  Inverse Quantization 
               2018  Inverse Transform 
               2020  Summing Unit 
               2022  Filter 
               2024  Intra Prediction Memory 
               2026  Picture Memory 
               2100  Entropy Decoding 
               2102  Inverse Quantization 
               2104  Inverse Transform 
               2106  Motion Compensation 
               2108  Intra Prediction 
               2110  Switch Unit 
               2112  Summing Unit 
               2114  Filter 
               2116  Intra Prediction Memory 
               2118  Picture Memory