Image coding method, image coding apparatus and data storage medium

摘要

A coding process is enabled in object units for an image signal having no shape information, without performing a process for extracting shape information of a specific area in a natural image from the image signal having no shape information corresponding to an image, such as the natural image. The image coding apparatus has a shape value data memory which contains shape values independent of pixel values constituting an image signal having no shape information. The coding of the pixel value is performed on the basis of the shape value read from the shape value data memory, as well as the coding of the shape value being performed, and then pixel coded data and shape coded data are multiplexed and output.