Patent ID: 8391691

Claim:
An encoding method for encoding, the encoding method comprising: generating a plurality of streams by encoding i) a stereoscopic picture which includes a left eye image and a right eye image or ii) a non-stereoscopic picture; generating stereoscopic video arrangement information which represents whether or not the plurality of streams include the stereoscopic picture, and the stereoscopic video arrangement information is separated from the plurality of streams; generating (i) a first identification information representing that an encoded picture is the stereoscopic picture or the non-stereoscopic picture, (ii) a second identification information representing that an encoded picture is a progressive picture or a non-progressive picture, wherein, the stereoscopic video arrangement information represents that the plurality of streams include the stereoscopic picture when the plurality of streams include the stereoscopic picture and represents that the plurality of streams do not include the stereoscopic picture when the plurality of streams do not include the stereoscopic picture, wherein, the first identification information represents that the encoded picture is the stereoscopic picture when the encoded picture is the stereoscopic picture, and represents that the encoded picture is the non-stereoscopic picture when the encoded picture is the non-stereoscopic picture, so that when the arrangement information indicates presence of the stereoscopic picture and when the first identification information represents that the encoded picture is the stereoscopic picture, the encoded picture is to be decoded to generate a decoded picture and the decoded picture is to be outputted as the stereoscopic picture, and when the first identification information represents that the encoded picture is the non-stereoscopic picture, the encoded picture is to be decoded to generate the decoded picture and the decoded picture is to be outputted as the non-stereoscopic picture; and when the stereoscopic video arrangement information indicates absence of the stereoscopic picture, the stereoscopic video arrangement information indicates that the encoded picture is to be decoded to generate the decoded picture and the decoded picture is to be outputted as the non-stereoscopic picture without outputting the decoded picture as the stereoscopic picture, wherein, the second identification information represents that the encoded picture is the progressive picture when the encoded picture is the progressive picture, and represents that the encoded picture is the non-progressive picture when the encoded picture is the non-progressive picture, wherein, the stream corresponds to a group of pictures.