# US 2021/0243440 A1 · Image processing apparatus and image processing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243440 A1 - Document ID: US20210243440A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/250,160 - Filed: 2019-06-03 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-14 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: YU NAKADA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243440A1 ## CPC - H04N 19/119: Adaptive subdivision aspects, e.g. subdivision of a picture into rectangular or non-rectangular coding blocks - H04N 19/436: using parallelised computational arrangements - H04N 19/157: Assigned coding mode, i.e. the coding mode being predefined or preselected to be further used for selection of another element or parameter - H04N 19/174: the region being a slice, e.g. a line of blocks or a group of blocks - H04N 19/70: characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for reducing the processing time required for decoding. A search section divides an access unit constituted by multiple process regions into multiple search regions having sizes different from those of the process regions. The search section further performs a search for a start position of the process region serving as a reference by which to allocate the process regions to multiple decoding sections individually. The search section further starts the search in a likely candidate region formed by the search region highly likely to include the process region start position. The present technology can be applied to an image processing system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processing apparatus comprising: a search section configured to divide an access unit constituted by multiple process regions into multiple search regions having sizes different from those of the process regions, the search section being further configured to perform a search for a start position of the process region serving as a reference by which to allocate the process regions to multiple decoding sections individually, the search section being further configured to start the search in a likely candidate region formed by the search region highly likely to include the process region start position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the process region start position is not detected in the search region highly likely to include the start position, the search section searches for the process region start position in the search region positioned close to the likely candidate region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the process region start position is not detected in a first search region positioned close to the likely candidate region, the search section searches for the process region start position in a second search region positioned close to the likely candidate region, and in a case where the process region start position is not detected in the second search region positioned close to the likely candidate region, the search section searches for the process region start position in a search region positioned close to the first search region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search section determines the likely candidate region on a basis of the number of the decoding sections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search section determines the likely candidate region on a basis of an encoding format. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search section determines the likely candidate region on a basis of the process region start position in the immediately preceding access unit searched. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search section divides the access unit into the search regions each having an equal size. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process regions include slices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the multiple decoding sections configured to decode the process regions allocated in reference to the process region start position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where there are two decoding sections, the search section searches for the process region start position in the single likely candidate region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where there are three decoding sections, the search section searches for the process region start position in the two likely candidate regions. ### Claim 12 An image processing method comprising: causing an image processing apparatus to divide an access unit constituted by multiple process regions into multiple search regions having sizes different from those of the process regions, the image processing apparatus being further caused to perform a search for a start position of the process region serving as a reference by which to allocate the process regions to multiple decoding sections individually, the image processing apparatus being further caused to start the search in a likely candidate region formed by the search region highly likely to include the process region start position.