Patent ID: 7369707

Claim:
An intra-picture prediction coding method comprising: determining, according to an amount of resources provided for intra-picture prediction coding, one or more intra-picture prediction method candidates that are candidates for an intra-picture prediction method for performing intra-picture prediction on a current block; executing intra-picture prediction on the current block using intra-picture prediction methods specified by the determined intra-picture prediction method candidates, and generating an intra-picture predictive image; generating a difference image between an input image that includes the current block, and the generated intra-picture predictive image, the difference image having difference values, each indicating a difference between each pixel in the input image and each pixel in the intra-picture predictive image, as each pixel value; calculating an evaluation value indicating coding efficiency, in the case where coding is performed based on the generated difference image using each intra-picture prediction method candidate based on which the difference image is generated; determining an intra-picture prediction method for coding the current block from among the intra-picture prediction method candidates, based on the evaluation values calculated for each of the intra-picture prediction method candidates; and coding intra-picture prediction method information indicating the determined intra-picture prediction method, and the difference image generated based on the intra-picture predictive image on which intra-picture prediction is performed using the determined intra-picture prediction method.