Image encoding apparatus and image decoding apparatus

An image decoding apparatus which decodes each process unit of a predetermined number (N) of pixels, the apparatus comprising:

• a first decoder configured to decode encoded data in accordance with a variable length decoding scheme;
• a second decoder configured to decode the encoded data so that a code amount generated by the second encoder is smaller than a maximum amount of code that can be decoded in accordance with the variable length decoding scheme;
• and
• a decoding switch unit configured to determine, in a switchable manner, a destination of the encoded data,
• wherein the decoding switch unit inputs the encoded data to the first decoder until decoding of a first pixel group (M) including a leading pixel of a process unit is finished, decodes information indicative of a destination of remaining encoded data, and determines, in a switchable manner, the destination of the remaining encoded data.

An image decoding apparatus which decodes each process unit of a predetermined number (N) of pixels, the apparatus comprising:

• a first decoder configured to decode encoded data in accordance with a variable length decoding scheme;
• a second decoder configured to decode the encoded data so that a code amount generated by the second encoder is smaller than a maximum amount of code that can be decoded in accordance with the variable length decoding scheme;
• a first acquisition unit configured to acquire and accumulate a first code amount processed by the first decoder;
• and
• a decoding switch unit configured to determine, in a switchable manner, a destination of the encoded data,
• wherein the decoding switch unit inputs the encoded data to the first decoder until the first code amount accumulated by the first acquisition unit becomes larger than a predetermined threshold and inputs the remaining encoded data to the second decoder when the first code amount becomes larger than the predetermined threshold.