Image coding device and method

An image encoding method performed by an encoding apparatus, comprising:

• deriving residual samples for a current block;
• generating residual information, based on the residual samples for the current block;
• determining whether an in-loop filtering process is performed across virtual boundaries;
• generating virtual boundaries-related information, based on the determination;
• configuring information on a number of the virtual boundaries to be parsed;
• configuring information on positions of the virtual boundaries to be parsed;
• and
• encoding image information including the residual information and the virtual boundaries-related information,
• wherein the image information includes a sequence parameter set (SPS), and picture header information referring to the SPS,
• wherein the virtual boundaries-related information includes a virtual boundaries enabled flag, the information on the number of the virtual boundaries, and the information on positions of the virtual boundaries,
• wherein whether signaling of the virtual boundaries-related information is present in the SPS or the picture header information is determined based on the virtual boundaries enabled flag, and
• wherein based on the determination that the in-loop filtering process is performed across the virtual boundaries, the in-loop filtering process is performed across the virtual boundaries based on the information on the number of the virtual boundaries and the information on positions of the virtual boundaries.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a bitstream generated by an image encoding method, the method comprising:

• deriving residual samples for a current block;
• generating residual information, based on the residual samples for the current block;
• determining whether an in-loop filtering process is performed across virtual boundaries;
• generating virtual boundaries-related information, based on the determination;
• configuring information on a number of the virtual boundaries to be parsed;
• configuring information on positions of the virtual boundaries to be parsed;
• and
• encoding image information including the residual information and the virtual boundaries-related information,
• wherein the image information includes a sequence parameter set (SPS), and picture header information referring to the SPS,
• wherein the virtual boundaries-related information includes a virtual boundaries enabled flag, the information on the number of the virtual boundaries, and the information on positions of the virtual boundaries,
• wherein whether signaling of the virtual boundaries-related information is present in the SPS or the picture header information is determined based on the virtual boundaries enabled flag, and
• wherein based on the determination that the in-loop filtering process is performed across the virtual boundaries, the in-loop filtering process is performed across the virtual boundaries based on the information on the number of the virtual boundaries and the information on positions of the virtual boundaries.