Image coding method including selecting a context for performing arithmetic coding on a parameter indicating a coding-target coefficient included in a sub-block

An image decoding apparatus which decodes an image coded on a block-by-block basis, the image decoding apparatus comprising:

• a context selecting unit configured to select, for each of a plurality of sub-blocks included in a decoding-target block and each including a plurality of coefficients, a context for performing arithmetic decoding on a parameter indicating a decoding-target coefficient included in the sub-block from a context set corresponding to the sub-block, based on at least one reference coefficient located around the decoding-target coefficient, the decoding-target block being a transform unit;
• and
• an arithmetic decoder configured to perform arithmetic decoding on the parameter indicating the decoding-target coefficient using probability information about the selected context,
• wherein, the context selecting unit is configured to select the context from the context set, the context set corresponding to a sum of (i) a horizontal value indicating a position in a horizontal direction of the sub-block in the decoding-target block and (ii) a vertical value indicating a position in a vertical direction of the sub-block in the decoding-target block,
• the horizontal value is an integer part of (a horizontal position of the coding-target coefficient/4), where the horizontal position of the coding target coefficient is a horizontal direction distance from a position of an upper left coefficient in the coding-target block,
• the vertical value is an integer part of (a vertical position of the coding-target coefficient/4), where the vertical position of the coding target coefficient is a vertical direction distance from the position of the upper left coefficient in the coding-target block, and
• (i) when the sum is smaller than or equal to a threshold value, the context selecting unit is configured to select the context from a first context set and (ii) when the sum is larger than the threshold value, the context selecting unit is configured to select the context from a second context set different from the first context set.

An image decoding apparatus which decodes an image coded on a block-by-block basis, the image decoding apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory memory having stored thereon executable instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to perform:
• selecting, for each of a plurality of sub-blocks included in a decoding-target block and each including a plurality of coefficients, a context for performing arithmetic decoding on a parameter indicating a decoding-target coefficient included in the sub-block from a context set corresponding to the sub-block, based on at least one reference coefficient located around the decoding-target coefficient, the decoding-target block being a transform unit;
• and
• performing arithmetic decoding on the parameter indicating the decoding-target coefficient using probability information about the selected context,
• wherein, in the selecting, the context is selected from the context set, the context set corresponding to a sum of (i) a horizontal value indicating a position in a horizontal direction of the sub-block in the decoding-target block and (ii) a vertical value indicating a position in a vertical direction of the sub-block in the decoding-target block,
• the horizontal value is an integer part of (a horizontal position of the coding-target coefficient/4), where the horizontal position of the coding target coefficient is a horizontal direction distance from a position of an upper left coefficient in the coding-target block,
• the vertical value is an integer part of (a vertical position of the coding-target coefficient/4), where the vertical position of the coding target coefficient is a vertical direction distance from the position of the upper left coefficient in the coding-target block, and
• in the selecting, (i) when the sum is smaller than or equal to a threshold value, the context is selected from a first context set and (ii) when the sum is larger than the threshold value, the context is selected from a second context set different from the first context set.