Patent ID: 7848579

Claim:
An image coding device comprising: an image coding unit operable to code image data; an entropy coding unit operable to binarize the coded image data and apply entropy coding to the binarized data; a prediction unit operable to obtain a predictive value corresponding to a predicted coding amount of the image data on a predetermined data unit basis supposing that the entropy coding were applied to the image data, said prediction unit obtaining the predicted value without actual binarizing being performed and based on information regarding the image data which is obtained from said image coding unit; a decision unit operable to compare the predictive value to a predetermined threshold value and decide to output I_PCM data, which is image data that has not been applied with the entropy coding by said entropy coding unit, when the predictive value is greater than the threshold value; and an output unit operable to output the I_PCM data when said decision unit decides to output the I_PCM data, and output data applied with the entropy coding when said decision unit does not decide to output the I_PCM data.