Method and apparatus for encoding image by using atypical split, and method and apparatus for decoding image by using atypical split

An image encoding apparatus comprising:

• a cluster generator configured to extract feature points from a picture, and generate at least two clusters by performing feature point clustering on the extracted feature points;
• a split section determiner configured to determine at least two split sections in the picture, the at least two split sections respectively corresponding to the at least two clusters;
• and
• a bitstream generator configured to parallel-encode the at least two split sections, and generate a bitstream comprising information about the at least two split sections,
• wherein a size and a shape of each of the at least two split sections are individually determined.

An image decoding method comprising:

• receiving a bitstream comprising split section information;
• determining at least two split sections based on the split section information;
• and
• reconstructing an image by performing parallel-decoding on the at least two split sections.

An image decoding apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a bitstream comprising split section information;
• a split section determiner configured to determine at least two split sections based on the split section information;
• and
• a decoder configured to reconstruct an image by performing parallel-decoding on the at least two split sections.