Patent Document ID: 10097855
Application ID: 15640829
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. An image decoding method for decoding a bit stream corresponding to coded data of a decoding target block included in a decoding target picture, wherein the bit stream is generated by the following steps: a step of referring to a first index list in which smaller first indices are assigned to pictures preceding a coding target picture in display order than first indices assigned to pictures following the coding target picture, the first index list being a list of index associating blocks included in the coding target picture with each picture that is referred to by the blocks; a step of selecting, from the first index list, as a first reference picture, a picture with the smallest first index out of a plurality of pictures that are referred to by a plurality of neighboring blocks, the plurality of neighboring blocks being at the neighborhood of the coding target block included in the coding target picture; a step of referring to a second index list in which smaller second indices are assigned to pictures following the coding target picture in display order than second indices assigned to pictures preceding the coding target picture, the second index list being a list of index associating blocks included in the coding target picture with each picture that is referred to by the blocks; a step of selecting, from the second index list, as a second reference picture, a picture with the smallest second index out of the plurality of pictures; and a step of predictive-coding the coding target block by referring to the first reference picture and the second reference picture, the image decoding method comprising: assigning smaller first indices to pictures preceding a decoding target picture in display order than first indices assigned to pictures following the decoding target picture, the first indices associating blocks included in the decoding target picture with each picture that is referred to by the blocks; assigning smaller second indices to pictures following the decoding target picture in display order than second indices assigned to pictures preceding the decoding target picture, the second indices associating blocks included in the decoding target picture with each picture that is referred to by the blocks; selecting, as a first reference picture, a picture with the smallest first index out of a plurality of pictures that are referred to by a plurality of neighboring blocks, the plurality of neighboring blocks being at the neighborhood of the decoding target block included in the decoding target picture; selecting, as a second reference picture, a picture with the smallest second index out of the plurality of pictures; and predictive-decoding the decoding target block by referring to the first reference picture and the second reference picture.