MOVING PICTURE ENCODING METHOD, MOVING PICTURE DECODING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

摘要

When encoding a picture used as a reference picture for another picture, a motion vector used in inter-picture prediction encoding is stored in a motion vector storage section (116). This motion vector storage operation is controlled by an encoding controller (110) so that the vector storage section (116) stores motion vector of a smaller number of pictures than the number of reference pictures. When encoding B picture in direct mode, if a motion vector to be referenced in the direct mode is held in the motion vector storage section (116), encoding is performed by using the motion vector. Moreover, if no motion vector to be referenced is held in the motion vector storage section (116), encoding is performed by making the motion vector "0" or by using a motion vector of a peripheral block.