Method and apparatus for video coding

An apparatus for video decoding, comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• obtain data corresponding to a current block of a current picture from a coded video bitstream, the current block being coded according to an intra block copy mode;
• decode, from the obtained data, a value indicating a maximum number of intra merge candidates in a merge candidate list for the current block;
• construct the merge candidate list for the current block, a number of intra merge candidates included in the constructed merge candidate list is equal to or less than the maximum number;
• determine a block vector for the current block according to the merge candidate list;
• and
• reconstruct at least one sample of the current block according to the block vector.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer for video decoding cause the computer to perform:

• obtaining data corresponding to a current block of a current picture from a coded video bitstream, the current block being coded according to an intra block copy mode;
• decoding, from the obtained data, a value indicating a maximum number of intra merge candidates in a merge candidate list for the current block;
• constructing the merge candidate list for the current block, the constructed merge candidate list including a number of intra merge candidates that is equal to or less than the maximum number;
• determining a block vector for the current block according to the merge candidate list;
• and
• reconstructing at least one sample of the current block according to the block vector.