Moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, and stream data

A moving picture decoding apparatus comprising:

• a separation unit operable to separate a bit stream signal into N bit streams corresponding to N color component pictures that compose one picture, where N is an integer that is 2 or greater, the bit stream signal indicating a coded moving picture;
• N decoding units, each of which is operable to decode, in one of intra-picture prediction decoding and inter-picture prediction decoding, a corresponding one of the N bit streams, said N decoding units being provided so as to correspond to the N bit streams;
• and
• a picture multiplexing unit operable to multiplex the N color component pictures from said N decoding units into the one picture,
• wherein said separation unit is operable to separate the bit stream signal into a prediction mode flag indicating correspondence between the N color component pictures and prediction modes to be used for the intra-picture prediction decoding,
• each of said N decoding units is operable to perform the intra-picture prediction decoding according to the prediction mode flag,
• the prediction mode flag includes information indicating whether or not the N color component pictures have been coded independently, and
• the prediction mode flag indicates one of:
• (i) that each of the N color component pictures has been coded in an independent prediction mode;
• and (ii) that the N color component pictures have been coded in a common prediction mode.

A moving picture coding method comprising:

• obtaining N color component pictures that compose one picture, where N is an integer that is 2 3 or greater;
• coding, in one of intra-picture prediction coding and inter-picture prediction coding, a corresponding one of the N color component pictures in N coding units that correspond to the N color component pictures;
• and
• multiplexing N bit streams outputted from the N coding units into one bit stream signal, and outputting the bit stream signal,
• wherein the N coding units are operable to individually use respective prediction modes or commonly use a prediction mode for the intra-picture prediction coding or the inter-picture prediction coding,
• said multiplexing comprises inserting, in the bit stream signal, a prediction mode flag indicating correspondence between the N color component pictures and prediction modes to be used for one of the intra-picture prediction coding and the inter-picture prediction coding,
• the prediction mode flag includes information indicating whether or not the N color component pictures have been coded independently, and
• the prediction mode flag indicates one of:
• (i) that each of the N color component pictures has been coded in an independent prediction mode;
• and (ii) that the N color component pictures have been coded in a common prediction mode.
• separately coding each of the N color component pictures, each of the N color component pictures being coded using one of intra-picture prediction coding and inter-prediction coding;
• and
• multiplexing bit streams obtained by the separately coding each of the N color component pictures one bit stream signal, and outputting the bit stream signal,
• wherein when the N color component pictures are coded using the inter-picture predication coding, a prediction mode is commonly used for the inter-picture prediction coding,
• when the N color component pictures are coded using the intra-picture predication coding, the multiplexing includes inserting, in the bit stream signal, a prediction flag indicating correspondence between the N color component pictures and prediction modes to be used for the intra-picture prediction coding, and
• the prediction flag has a predefined value indicating that a prediction mode for the intra-picture prediction coding used to code one of the N color component pictures is independent of a prediction mode for the intra-picture prediction coding commonly used to code remaining N color component pictures.

A moving picture decoding method comprising:

• separating a bit stream signal into N bit streams corresponding to N color component pictures that compose one picture, where N is an integer that is 2 3 or greater, the bit stream signal indicating a coded moving picture;
• decoding, in one of intra-picture prediction decoding and inter-picture prediction decoding, a corresponding one of the N bit streams in N decoding units that correspond to the N bit streams;
• and
• multiplexing the N color component pictures from the N decoding units into the one picture,
• wherein said separating comprises separating the bit stream signal into a prediction mode flag indicating correspondence between the N color component pictures and prediction modes to be used for the intra-picture prediction decoding,
• each of the N decoding units is operable to perform the intra-picture prediction decoding according to the prediction mode flag,
• the prediction mode flag includes information indicating whether or not the N color component pictures have been coded independently, and
• the prediction mode flag indicates one of:
• (i) that each of the N color component pictures has been coded in an independent prediction mode;
• and (ii) that the N color component pictures have been coded in a common prediction mode.
• separately decoding each of the N color component pictures, each of the N color component pictures being decoded using one of intra-picture prediction decoding and inter-prediction decoding;
• and
• multiplexing the decoded N color component pictures obtained by the separately decoding each of the N color component pictures into the one picture,
• wherein when the N color component pictures are decoded using the inter-picture predication decoding, a prediction mode is commonly used for the inter-picture prediction decoding,
• the separating includes separating the bit stream signal into a prediction flag indicating correspondence between the N color component pictures and prediction modes to be used for the intra-picture prediction decoding, and
• the prediction flag has a predefined value indicating that a prediction mode for the intra-picture prediction decoding used to decode one of the N color component pictures is independent of a prediction mode for the intra-picture prediction decoding commonly used to decode remaining N color component pictures.

A stream data that is computer readable, comprising

• N bit streams and a prediction mode flag,
• wherein said N bit streams represent N color component pictures that compose one picture, where N is an integer that is 2 or greater,
• the prediction mode flag includes information indicating correspondence between the N color component pictures and prediction modes to be used for one of intra-picture prediction coding and inter-picture prediction coding, and information indicating whether or not the N color component pictures have been coded independently, and
• the prediction mode flag indicates one of:
• (i) that each of the N color component pictures has been coded in an independent prediction mode;
• and (ii) that the N color component pictures have been coded in a common prediction mode.