Patent ID: 7830959

Claim:
An apparatus for performing intra prediction for an image decoder, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing image data; a prediction apparatus for parallel processing intra prediction with respect to 16×16 luminance component and 4×4 luminance component and then performing intra prediction for chrominance component by means of horizontal/vertical blocks adjacent to the image data supplied from the memory; a multiplexer for selecting a result operated from the prediction apparatus; and a first control unit for controlling the memory, the prediction apparatus and the multiplexer; wherein the prediction apparatus includes: a selector for selecting and outputting the 16×16 luminance component, 4×4 luminance component, and chrominance component of the image data stored in the memory; a 16×16 luminance signal generator for performing intra prediction by selecting any one among various predetermined prediction modes with respect to the 16×16 luminance component output from the selector; a 4×4 luminance signal generator for performing intra prediction by selecting any one among various predetermined prediction modes with respect to the 4×4 luminance component output from the selector; a chrominance signal generator for performing intra prediction by selecting any one among various predetermined prediction modes with respect to the chrominance component output from the selector; and a second control unit for controlling the image data input to the selector to be output to the 16×16 luminance signal generator, 4×4 luminance signal generator, and chrominance signal generator, respectively, based on each luminance component and chrominance component, and for allowing the intra prediction with respect to the 16×16 luminance component and 4×4 luminance component to be parallel processed, and then the intra prediction with respect to the chrominance component to be processed.