Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, receiving apparatus, and transmitting apparatus

A receiving method performed by a receiving device, the receiving method comprising:

• receiving encoded pictures;
• decoding the encoded pictures arranged in decoding order to generate pictures, the decoding order being different from display order, the encoded pictures each being associated with any one of Temporal IDs defined in High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, wherein
• the encoded pictures include B pictures associated with a largest Temporal ID, the B pictures corresponding to Bi-directional Predicted Frames of the HEVC standard,
• the B pictures include a leading B picture in the display order, and
• (i) only a single picture is referenced and (ii) reference to a lower B picture is prohibited when the leading B picture is decoded, the single picture being provided in front of the leading B picture in the display order, a Temporal ID associated with each of the single picture and the lower B picture being smaller than the largest Temporal ID, the lower B picture being provided immediately behind the leading B picture in the display order.

A receiving device comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive encoded pictures;
• a signal processing circuit configured to decode the encoded pictures arranged in decoding order to generate pictures, the decoding order being different from display order, the encoded pictures each being associated with any one of Temporal IDs defined in High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, wherein
• the encoded pictures include B pictures associated with a largest Temporal ID, the B pictures corresponding to Bi-directional Predicted Frames of the HEVC standard,
• the B pictures include a leading B picture in the display order, and
• (i) only a single picture is referenced and (ii) reference to a lower B picture is prohibited when the leading B picture is decoded, the single picture being provided in front of the leading B picture in the display order, a Temporal ID associated with each of the single picture and the lower B picture being smaller than the largest Temporal ID, the lower B picture being provided immediately behind the leading B picture in the display order.