Method and apparatus for processing a video signal

An image encoding apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to:
• determine inter prediction information for a current block;
• perform an inter prediction for the current block using the determined inter prediction information;
• and
• encode the inter prediction information for the current block;
• wherein the at least one processor, to encode the inter prediction information for the current block, further configured to:
• construct merge candidates for the current block by including neighboring blocks adjacent to the current block;
• add a candidate generated by combining inter prediction information of a first neighboring block and inter prediction information of a second neighboring block among the neighboring blocks to the merge candidates;
• and
• encode merge index information indicating a candidate having inter prediction information corresponding to the inter prediction information for the current block among the merge candidates and merge flag information indicating whether a merge mode is applied to the current block into the bitstream,
• wherein the inter prediction information includes motion vector information and a reference picture index, and
• wherein the merge index information is encoded based on whether the merge mode is applied to the current block.

An apparatus for transmitting a bitstream for an image, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor configured to obtain the bitstream generated by an encoding apparatus;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit the bitstream;
• the bitstream is generated by:
• determining inter prediction information for a current block;
• performing inter prediction for the current block using the determined inter prediction information;
• and
• encoding the inter prediction information for the current block;
• wherein the encoding the inter prediction information for the current block comprises:
• constructing merge candidates for the current block by including neighboring blocks adjacent to the current block;
• adding a candidate generated by combining inter prediction information of a first neighboring block and inter prediction information of a second neighboring block among the neighboring blocks to the merge candidates;
• encoding merge index information indicating a candidate having inter prediction information corresponding to the inter prediction information for the current block among the merge candidates and merge flag information indicating whether a merge mode is applied to the current block into the bitstream;
• wherein the inter prediction information includes motion vector information and a reference picture index, and
• wherein the merge index information is encoded based on whether the merge mode is applied to the current block.