Patent ID: 8223833

Claim:
A picture coding method for coding a moving picture having a plurality of pictures, on a picture-by-picture basis, using a set of picture numbers repeatedly assigned in coding order to respective pictures included in the moving picture such that more than one of the pictures included in the moving picture has the same picture number, the picture coding method comprising: a first adding step of adding, using a first adding unit, a first memory management command to a first picture having a predetermined picture number, the first memory management command being information for managing the first picture; a determining step of determining, using a determining unit, whether or not the first picture, from among a plurality of pictures each having the predetermined picture number, is located immediately previous to a second picture in coding order, the second picture being different from the first picture; a second adding step of adding, using a second adding unit, a second memory management command to a point of the second picture, the second memory management command being the same as the first memory management command, when a determination is made in the determining step that the first picture is located immediately previous to the second picture in coding order; and a prohibiting step of prohibiting, using a prohibiting unit, the addition of the second memory management command when a determination is made in the determining step that the first picture is not located immediately previous to the second picture in coding order.