Patent ID: 7688893

Claim:
A video encoder which codes a motion picture signal, the video encoder comprising: means for calculating each primary evaluative value of a plurality of primary evaluative values corresponding respectively to a plurality of 4×4 intra-prediction modes with different prediction directions, for each of sixteen 4×4-pixel blocks included in each of a plurality of macro-blocks, each macro-block comprising sixteen 4×4-pixel blocks, using the motion picture signal as a reference image signal; means for determining a 4×4 intra-prediction mode candidate in accordance with the primary evaluative values; means for calculating each of a plurality of secondary evaluative values corresponding respectively to 4×4 intra-prediction mode candidates for each macro-block, by applying to the primary evaluative values for the 4×4 intra-prediction mode candidates, weight summing which uses evaluation coefficients corresponding to positions of each of the 4×4-pixel blocks in the macro-block; means for determining a coding prediction mode for each macro-block, using the secondary evaluative values; and means for coding the motion picture signal in accordance with the coding prediction mode.