Patent ID: 8885731

Claim:
An image decoding method of decoding encoded data per unit included in units that are included in a picture, the image decoding method comprising: obtaining, from an encoded bitstream including the encoded data, a first flag indicating whether or not a removal time of the encoded data from a buffer is set per unit, the buffer being for storing the encoded data; obtaining, from the encoded bitstream, a second flag indicating whether an interval between removal times of the units is constant or arbitrary when the removal times are set per unit; obtaining common-interval information from per-picture control information when the second flag indicates that the interval is constant, the common-interval information indicating the interval, and the per-picture control information being included in the encoded bitstream and provided per picture; removing the encoded data from the buffer per unit and at a constant or arbitrary interval according to the second flag; and decoding the removed encoded data, wherein, in the removing, when the second flag indicates that the interval is constant, the encoded data is removed from the buffer per unit and at the interval indicated in the common-interval information.