Image coding method and image coding device for partitioning an image into processing units and coding the partitioned image to generate a code sequence

An image decoding method for decoding a code sequence generated by an image coding method, wherein the image coding method is performed using processing circuitry, for partitioning an image into processing units, and coding the partitioned image to generate the code sequence, the image coding method comprising:

• determining a partitioning pattern for hierarchically partitioning the image in order starting from a largest processing unit which is 64 pixels by 64 pixels, the largest processing unit corresponding to a hierarchy depth value of 0;
• defining the partitioning pattern only by (i) a maximum hierarchy depth value of N indicating a deepest processing unit which the largest processing unit is partitioned down to, (ii) a minimum hierarchy depth value of K indicating a shallowest processing unit which the largest processing unit is partitioned down to, and (iii) one bit indicating whether or not to partition each of the partitioning units corresponding to the minimum hierarchy depth value of K, when it is determined that the minimum hierarchy depth value of K is greater than 0 and the maximum hierarchy depth value of N is (K+1);
• and coding the defined partitioning pattern,
• the image decoding method comprising:
• decoding the defined partitioning pattern included in the code sequence;
• and
• determining the partitioning pattern from the decoded defined partitioning pattern.

An image decoding method for decoding a code sequence generated by an image coding method, wherein the image coding method is performed using processing circuitry, for partitioning an image into processing units, and coding the partitioned image to generate the code sequence, the image coding method comprising:

• determining a partitioning pattern for hierarchically partitioning the image in order starting from a largest processing unit which is 64 pixels by 64 pixels, the largest processing unit corresponding to a hierarchy depth value of 0;
• defining the partitioning pattern only by (i) a maximum hierarchy depth value of N indicating a deepest processing unit which the largest processing unit is partitioned down to, (ii) a minimum hierarchy depth value of K indicating a shallowest processing unit which the largest processing unit is partitioned down to, and (iii) one bit indicating whether or not to partition each of partitioning units corresponding to the minimum hierarchy depth value of K, when it is determined that the minimum hierarchy depth value of K is 2 and the maximum hierarchy depth value of N is 3;
• and coding the defined partitioning pattern,
• the image decoding method comprising:
• decoding the defined partitioning pattern included in the code sequence;
• and
• determining the partitioning pattern from the decoded defined partitioning pattern.

An image decoding method for decoding a code sequence generated by an image coding method, wherein the image coding method is performed using processing circuitry, for partitioning an image into processing units, and coding the partitioned image to generate the code sequence, the image coding method comprising:

• determining a partitioning pattern for hierarchically partitioning the image in order starting from a largest processing unit which is 64 pixels by 64 pixels, the largest processing unit corresponding to a hierarchy depth value of 0;
• defining the partitioning pattern only by (i) a maximum hierarchy depth value of N indicating a deepest processing unit which the largest processing unit is partitioned down to, (ii) a minimum hierarchy depth value of K indicating a shallowest processing unit which the largest processing unit is partitioned down to, and (iii) one bit indicating whether or not to partition each of partitioning units corresponding to a hierarchy depth value of M;
• and coding the defined partitioning pattern, wherein the minimum hierarchy depth value of K is greater than 0, the hierarchy depth value of M is equal to the minimum hierarchy depth value of K or is greater than the minimum hierarchy depth value of K, and the hierarchy depth value of M is less than the maximum hierarchy depth value of N,
• the image decoding method comprising:
• decoding the defined partitioning pattern included in the code sequence;
• and
• determining the partitioning pattern from the decoded defined partitioning pattern.