Patent ID: 7881377

Claim:
An image coding apparatus which codes an input frame, the apparatus comprising: a data storage unit configured to store coded image data of pixels adjacent to a current block to be coded, the current block being one of a plurality blocks included in the input frame and including a predetermined number of pixels; and a prediction error calculation unit configured to determine one of a plurality of prediction modes and calculate a prediction error of the current block in the determined prediction mode, wherein the prediction error calculation unit is configured to determine one of the plurality of prediction modes in at least one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the first operation mode being a mode in which a prediction mode for the current block is determined based on (i) a plurality of prediction data calculated in the plurality of prediction modes for the image data stored in the data storage unit, and (ii) image data included in the current block, and the second operation mode being a mode in which a prediction mode for the current block is determined based on the prediction mode used for a coded block adjacent to the current block.