IMAGE ENCODING METHOD, IMAGE ENCODING APPARATUS, IMAGE DECODING METHOD, IMAGE DECODING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE ENCODING/DECODING APPARATUS

摘要

An image encoding method, which generates a bit stream by encoding images for each of the blocks, comprises: a determining step (S201) for determining the maximum number of merge candidates, which are candidates for a prediction direction, a motion vector, and an reference picture index to be used in encoding the blocks to be encoded; a first deriving step (S202) for deriving first merge candidates; an evaluating step (S204) for evaluating whether the number of first merge candidates is less than the maximum number; a second deriving step (S205) for deriving second merge candidates when the number of first merge candidates is evaluated as being less than the maximum number; a selecting step (S206) for selecting merge candidates to be used in encoding the blocks to be encoded, from among the first merge candidates and the second merge candidates; and an encoding step (S207) for encoding an index for specifying the selected merge candidates using the maximum number, and adding the encoded index to the bit stream.