Image encoding method and image decoding method

An image decoding apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• decode a target block by an intra prediction when a size of the target block is a predetermined size;
• and
• decode the target block by an inter prediction when the size of the target block is not the predetermined size,
• wherein the decoding of the target block by the inter prediction comprises:
• selecting one or more available blocks from already-decoded blocks, the already-decoded blocks including a first block adjacent to a left of a target block and a second block adjacent to a top of the target block, wherein the selecting one or more available blocks comprises:
• determining which of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is applied to the first block, wherein when it is determined that the intra prediction is applied to the first block, the first block is not selected as an available block,
• determining which of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is applied to the second block, wherein when it is determined that the intra prediction is applied to the second block, the second block is not selected as an available block,
• determining, when the inter prediction is applied to the first block and the second block, whether a motion vector of the first block is identical to a motion vector of the second block,
• selecting the first block and the second block as available blocks when the motion vector of the first block is different from the motion vector of the second block, and
• selecting one of the first block and the second block as an available block when the motion vector of the first block is identical to the motion vector of the second block, wherein the other of the first block and the second block is not selected as an available block;
• decoding from input encoded data selection information specifying one of the one or more available blocks;
• selecting a block from the one or more available blocks in accordance with the selection information;
• and
• generating a predicted image of the target block using a motion vector of the selected block.

An image encoding method comprising:

• encoding a target block by an intra prediction when a size of the target block is a predetermined size;
• and
• encoding the target block by an inter prediction when the size of the target block is not the predetermined size,
• wherein the encoding of the target block by the inter prediction comprises:
• selecting one or more available blocks from already-encoded blocks, the already-encoded blocks including a first block adjacent to a left of a target block and a second block adjacent to a top of the target block, wherein the selecting one or more available blocks comprises:
• determining which of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is applied to the first block, wherein when it is determined that the intra prediction is applied to the first block, the first block is not selected as an available block,
• determining which of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is applied to the second block, wherein when it is determined that the intra prediction is applied to the second block, the second block is not selected as an available block,
• determining, when the inter prediction is applied to the first block and the second block, whether a motion vector of the first block is identical to a motion vector of the second block,
• selecting the first block and the second block as available blocks when the motion vector of the first block is different from the motion vector of the second block, and
• selecting one of the first block and the second block as an available block when the motion vector of the first block is identical to the motion vector of the second block, wherein the other of the first block and the second block is not selected as an available block;
• selecting a block from the one or more available blocks;
• encoding selection information specifying the selected block;
• and
• generating a predicted image of the target block using a motion vector of the selected block.

An image encoding apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• encode a target block by an intra prediction when a size of the target block is a predetermined size;
• and
• encode the target block by an inter prediction when the size of the target block is not the predetermined size,
• wherein the encoding of the target block by the inter prediction comprises:
• selecting one or more available blocks from already-encoded blocks, the already-encoded blocks including a first block adjacent to a left of a target block and a second block adjacent to a top of the target block, wherein the selecting one or more available blocks comprises:
• determining which of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is applied to the first block, wherein when it is determined that the intra prediction is applied to the first block, the first block is not selected as an available block,
• determining which of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is applied to the second block, wherein when it is determined that the intra prediction is applied to the second block, the second block is not selected as an available block,
• determining, when the inter prediction is applied to the first block and the second block, whether a motion vector of the first block is identical to a motion vector of the second block,
• selecting the first block and the second block as available blocks when the motion vector of the first block is different from the motion vector of the second block, and
• selecting one of the first block and the second block as an available block when the motion vector of the first block is identical to the motion vector of the second block, wherein the other of the first block and the second block is not selected as an available block;
• selecting a block from the one or more available blocks;
• encoding selection information specifying the selected block;
• and
• generating a predicted image of the target block using a motion vector of the selected block.