Image processing device for suppressing deterioration in encoding efficiency

An image processing method comprising:

• decoding encoded data in which an image with a plurality of layers, each comprising a plurality of sublayers, is encoded by performing inter-layer prediction on a sublayer based on inter-layer prediction control information specifying a highest sublayer used for the inter-layer prediction, wherein the inter-layer prediction is performed on sublayers of a non-base layer, the sublayers starting from a lowest sublayer to the specified highest sublayer, and sublayers higher than the specified highest sublayer are not used for the inter-layer prediction.

An image processing device comprising:

• encoding circuitry configured to encode image data in which an image with a plurality of layers, each comprising a plurality of sublayers, is encoded by performing inter-layer prediction on a sublayer based on inter-layer prediction control information specifying a highest sublayer used for the inter-layer prediction, wherein the inter-layer prediction is performed on sublayers of a non-base layer, the sublayers starting from a lowest sublayer to the specified highest sublayer, and sublayers higher than the specified highest sublayer are not used for the inter-layer prediction.

An image processing method comprising:

• encoding image data in which an image with a plurality of layers, each comprising a plurality of sublayers, is encoded by performing inter-layer prediction on a sublayer based on inter-layer prediction control information specifying a highest sublayer used for the inter-layer prediction, wherein the inter-layer prediction is performed on sublayers of a non-base layer, the sublayers starting from a lowest sublayer to the specified highest sublayer, and sublayers higher than the specified highest sublayer are not used for the inter-layer prediction.